Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder much like depression. But, depression is unipolar and as previously discussed, has a depressed mood as its primary feature. A bipolar mood disorder has two poles; the first is depression, and the second is either mania or hypomania. Historically this disorder has been called manic-depressive disorder. Mania in this case is a hyper alert, rapid and excitable mood, and can sometimes be associated with psychosis or unreasonable thoughts. Bipolarity is also frequently cyclic in nature with either depression or mania being the dominant mood. The cycle can take days or weeks to change, or it can change many times in one day. Some bipolar patients have hypomania, which is less extreme than full-blown manic episodes. Hypomania can actually be a productive state of mood and is generally characterized as “life in overdrive”. Problem solving, task accomplishment, and organizational skills can be enhanced, until the other end of the pole, depression dominates.
Bipolar mood disorder as a label, has been used very freely in our society, and I have heard it used in public discourse inaccurately. It is not uncommon to hear a reference to someone acting like they are bipolar. The truth is that this mood disorder is difficult to diagnose and requires treatment and sometimes collaterally, hospitalization. The causes are poorly understood but there is good evidence for a genetic component as well as environmental factors. There is additionally a link between thyroid function and bipolar mood disorder.
I have had the opportunity to work with bipolar patients but due to the complexity of this disorder, I have no composite vignette. I will instead, provide a link to the National Institute for Mental Health information file here.
Bipolar mood disorder as a label, has been used very freely in our society, and I have heard it used in public discourse inaccurately. It is not uncommon to hear a reference to someone acting like they are bipolar. The truth is that this mood disorder is difficult to diagnose and requires treatment and sometimes collaterally, hospitalization. The causes are poorly understood but there is good evidence for a genetic component as well as environmental factors. There is additionally a link between thyroid function and bipolar mood disorder.
I have had the opportunity to work with bipolar patients but due to the complexity of this disorder, I have no composite vignette. I will instead, provide a link to the National Institute for Mental Health information file here.
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