2. What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder
that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to
carry out day-to-day tasks
People with bipolar disorder go through unusual mood changes, ranging from
periods of extremely “up” or happy to periods of “down” or very sad
“Up” refers to a manic episode while “down” refers to a depressive episode
These mood swings are more extreme than just being happy or sad, they can
affect a person’s sleep, energy level, and ability to think clearly
Bipolar symptoms are so strong that they can damage relationships and make
it hard to go to school or keep a job
3. Symptoms
People with bipolar disorder experience periods of unusually intense emotion,
changes in sleep patterns and activity levels, and unusual behaviors
Depressive (“Down”) episode symptoms:
• Feel very sad or hopeless
• Have very little energy
• Have decreased activity levels
• Have trouble sleeping
• Feel worried and empty
• Have trouble concentrating
• Eat too much or too little
• Feel tired or exhausted
Manic (“Up”) episode symptoms:
• Feel very “high” or happy
• Have a lot of energy
• Have increased activity levels
• Have trouble sleeping
• Talk really fast
• Be agitated or irritable
• Do risky things
• Think they can do a lot of things at once
4. Prevalence
Bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million
adult Americans every year (2.6% of U.S. adult
population)
The median age of onset for bipolar disorder is 25
years old, however, the illness can start in early
childhood or even as late as 40-50 years old
More than 2/3 of people with bipolar disorder have
at least one close relative that also has bipolar
disorder
People with bipolar disorder are more likely to
have substance abuse issues, anxiety/ADHD, and
psychosis symptoms
5. Causes
Doctors do not know what causes bipolar disorder, but several things may
contribute to the illness
Bipolar disorder sometimes runs in the family, therefore heredity is linked to
causing the illness
Another factor that may lead to bipolar disorder is the brain structure or
brain function of the person with the disorder
An unexpected stressful event can cause someone to become bipolar
6. Treatment
Medication: mood stabilizers, atypical antipsychotics, and
antidepressants
Psychotherapy: “talk therapy” provides support,
education and guidance to people with bipolar disorder
and their families
Electroconvulsive Therapy: “shock therapy” provides a
quick electric current that can sometimes correct
problems in the brain
Life chart records daily mood symptoms, treatments,
sleep patterns, and life events that help clients and
doctors track and treat bipolar disorder
