Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder has been a mystery for many hundreds of years. Many people suffer from it, yet we still do not know what causes it or how to cure it. The one fact in which we are sure of is that bipolar disorder severely affects the ability to perform in social situations. It is because of its' symptoms that we must remain active in searching for its cause and cure.
Diagnosing bipolar disorder can, most commonly, be broken down into two major episodes. Most victims express these as manic and depressive stages. Manic episodes are characterized by feelings of irritability, insomnia, poor judgement and generally irresponsible behavior (Hollandsworth, Jr. 1990). The depressive episodes appear in the form of intense feelings of sadness and despair, feelings of hopelessness and recurrent thoughts of death and suicide (Hollandsworth, Jr. 1990). These episodes are alternated with disturbances in appetite, sleep, and an almost inability to move.
Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night. Oil on canvas,...
Sodium valproate is a common mood stabilizer
English: MDF Bipolar Organisation, Mill Street, Ne...It affects nearly 3 million people in America today.
Bipolar disorder may be diagnosed if an episode of mania occurs, whether depression has been diagnosed or not (Goodwin, Guze, 1989, p 11). In its earliest stages, symptoms include hyperactivity, flight of ideas, inflated self-esteem, distractibility, and excessive involvement in reckless activities (Hollandsworth, Jr. 1990). Less common symptoms include loss of all interest and retardation (Weisman, 1992). It can affect anyone, male or female, regardless of race, age or environment.
The National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association (MDMDA) has studied the effects of bipolar disorder on victims' lives. In nearly all cases, it has caused substantial disruptions in marital and family relationships, occupational trouble and financial disasters. As a direct result of these problems, many victims have requested financial aid, costing millions of dollars to society. Many patients report that symptoms increase in frequency and severity as...