Bipolar Disorder

The key identifying feature of Bipolar disorder is the tendency of manic episode to alternate with major depressive episodes in an unending roller coaster ride from the peaks of elation to the depths of despair.



Bipolar disorders are parallel in many ways to depressive disorder. There are three types of bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder I ,in which individual experiences a full manic episode.



Bipolar disorder II, in which major depressive episodes alternate with hypo manic episodes rather than full manic episode.Cyclothymia, in this there is a chronic alteration of mood elevation and depression that does not reach the severity of manic or major depressin.Individuals with cyclothymic disorder tend to be in one mood state or the other for many years.

During the manic phase the person feels extreme pleasure and joy from every activity. They are extraordinarily active in planning daily activities, sleep very little without getting tired, develop grandiose plans leading to reckless behavior. They have “racing thoughts” and talk on and on very fast.



They get easily distracted and irritated. This phase lasts for a week or more ,involved with extreme energy. Grandiose feelings( such as buying an expensive car or placing urgent calls to President) lead to grandiose behavior.

During the depressive phase, the person feels tired all the time.



They feel worthless, helpless and hopeless. They have trouble concentrating, have trouble sleeping or sleep more than usual, have disinterest in pleasurable activities and friends, feel physical aches and pains that have no medical cause and think about death or suicide.

Mood disorder triggers due to positive or negative life change or physical illness. It is generally caused by biological,psychological,social, behavioral, emotional and cognitive influences.



The principal effect of medication is to alter levels of neurotransmitters and other related neurochemicals. This is done through antidepressants or ECT(Electro convulsive therapy).Stressful life events and trauma are the triggering factors to develop bipolar disorder. Also marital dissatisfaction too lead to mood disorder.

Treatment is mainly based on medication and psychological treatment.



Many psychotherapies such as cognitive therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy help the victim to come out of the problem. Cognitive- Behavioral therapy help depressed people to learn to replace negative depressive thoughts and attributions with more positive ones. Interpersonal psychotherapy help depressed people to develop skills to revolve interpersonal conflicts and build new relationships.

Therefore, treatment for mood disorders especially Bipolar disorder is most effective and easiest when it’s started earlier. Most bipolar patients are treated with a combination of these methods.