Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by alternating periods of mania and depression. Manic episodes involve elevated or irritable moods along with rapid speech, distractibility, racing thoughts, and increased goal-oriented activities lasting at least a week. Depressive episodes include persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, guilt, and hopelessness along with sleep and appetite disturbances and fatigue. While the exact causes are unclear, genetic influences are believed to account for 60-80% of the risk. Treatments include psychotherapy to alleviate symptoms and recognize triggers and pharmacology like lithium and anticonvulsants to treat episodes and prevent relapses.

1. B O B T H E B I P O L A R B L O G G E R
BIPOLAR DISORDER

2. BIPOLAR DISORDER
• A mental illness characterized by alternating
episodes of an elevated mood known as mania,
and episodes of severe depression.

3. MANIA
• Manic episodes usually last for at least one week of
elevated or irritable mood, where they display four
symptoms: speaking in a rapid, uninterruptible
manner, easily distracted, racing thoughts, or
increase in goal-oriented activities.

4. DEPRESSION
• Symptoms of the depressive episodes include
persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, guilt, anger,
isolation, or hopelessness, disturbances in sleep and
appetite, and general fatigue.

5. CAUSES
• The causes of bipolar disorder vary between each
person, and the exact cause remains unclear.
However, genetic influences are believed to
account for 60-80% of the risk of developing the
disorder.

6. TREATMENT
• Treatments for bipolar disorder include both
psychotherapeutic and pharmacological
techniques that are aimed to reduce the severity
and frequency of the different episodes and their
symptoms.

7. PSYCHOTHERAPY
• Aimed at alleviating core symptoms, recognizing
triggers, reducing negative expressed emotion, and
practicing factors that lead to maintenance of
remission. Therapies such as light, cognitive
behavioral, family focused, and interpersonal
therapy are used.

8. PHARMACOLOGY
• The most commonly used medicine is lithium, which
is effective in treating acute manic episodes and
preventing relapses. Four anticonvulsants are also
used to treat both the manic and the depressive
episodes.

9. MANIA
• I feel extremely happy and that nothing could ever
bring me down. I always see the positive side of
things, and am often making rash decisions without
thinking of the consequences.

10. MANIA

11. MANIA

12. MANIA

13. MANIA

14. MANIA

15. DEPRESSION
• During my depression episodes, I feel like I am
nothing. I have contributed nothing to this world,
and I feel angry and hopeless about it. I feel like
doing nothing, and usually stay in bed all day.

16. DEPRESSION

17. DEPRESSION

18. DEPRESSION

19. DEPRESSION

20. DEPRESSION