Bipolar Disorder

By Bhavini Pandey

In the United States of America, 1 in 5 teenagers have a serious mental disorder. Bipolar disorder is a common example of one of these mental disorders, affecting up to 60 million people worldwide. In a nutshell, bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mental health condition which causes extreme mood shifts. This ailment affects one’s mood, energy, concentration, and ability to perform daily tasks.

The Aspects of Bipolar Disorder

The moods associated with bipolar disorder refer to different episodes, known as manic episodes and depressive episodes. Manic episodes are “up” episodes, which involve elated and energized behavior. Depressive episodes, on the other hand, are “down” episodes which involve hopeless and inactive behavior. Each episode can last anywhere from a few days to even two years.

There are four different categories which cases of bipolar disorder are separated into. The first is known as Bipolar I Disorder, which is known for episodes that last at least a week. The symptoms are usually so severe that immediate hospital care is required. People experiencing bipolar I disorder may also display manic symptoms and depressive symptoms at the same time. The second type of bipolar disorder is called Bipolar II Disorder. This form of the disorder is defined by depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes. Hypomanic episodes are similar to manic episodes, but they are not as full-blown and extreme as manic episodes. The third type of bipolar disorder is known as Cyclothymic Disorder. This form of the disorder is defined by hypomanic symptoms and depressive symptoms (not episodes!) which last for two years. The fourth type of bipolar disorder is known as other specified and unspecified bipolar and related disorders, which is essentially just a category for other bipolar disorder cases which do not fit any of the other categories.

Bipolar disorder can be hard to diagnose, and this is because it is often misdiagnosed as a different disorder or mental illness. People with bipolar disorder are more likely to reach out to others and seek help when they are experiencing a depressive episode. This causes bipolar disorder to be mistaken for major depression. Therefore, it is essential that health care providers carefully review the medical history of a patient so that this common mistake is not made.

The signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder can be seen in both manic episodes and depressive episodes. In manic episodes, some of these signs include feeling very “up” or “high”, having a decreased need for sleep, having a loss for appetite, feeling like one’s thoughts are racing, and feeling like they are unusually important and talented. Some of the signs of bipolar disorder in depressive episodes include feeling very “down” and sad, having trouble sleeping or sleeping far too little, experiencing an increased appetite, having trouble concentrating, having little to no interest in activities or hobbies, and feeling hopeless or worthless.

Scientists have not yet discovered the single cause of bipolar disorder. So, as of right now, they have agreed on a few different factors which contribute to the likelihood of having bipolar disorder. The first factor is Brain Structure and Functioning. Multiple studies indicate that the brains of those affected by bipolar disorder differ from those who are unaffected and do not have any mental illnesses or disorders. Genetics also may play a role in who is more likely to develop this disorder. Research shows that people who have a parent or sibling with bipolar disorder are more likely to develop the disorder. Studies have also found that people with certain genes are more likely to develop bipolar disorder, but this cannot be narrowed down to any single gene, since multiple genes appear to be involved.

Studies have been performed to find out which parts of the brain specifically are affected by bipolar disorder as well as how they have been affected. They indicate deficits in three areas: attention, executive function, and emotional processing. Imaging studies have also shown pathophysiology in the prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortices as well as subcortical limbic structures including the amygdala and the ventral striatum.

Sources

“Bipolar Disorder.” NAMI, www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Bipolar-

Disorder.

Clark, Luke, and Barbara J Sahakian. “Cognitive Neuroscience and Brain Imaging in Bipolar

Disorder.” Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, Les Laboratoires Servier, 2008,

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181872/.

Polansky, Brittany. “The 5 Most Common Psychological Disorders Today.” 1st Step Behavioral

Health, 24 Feb. 2020, firststepbh.com/blog/psychological-disorders/.