Bipolar Disorder
A disorder associated with episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs.
The exact cause of bipolar disorder isn’t known, but a combination of genetics, environment, and altered brain structure and chemistry may play a role.
Manic episodes may include symptoms such as high energy, reduced need for sleep, and loss of touch with reality.
Depressive episodes may include symptoms such as low energy, low motivation, and loss of interest in daily activities. Mood episodes last days to months at a time and may also be associated with suicidal thoughts.
Treatment is usually lifelong and often involves a combination of medications and psychotherapy.
Cluster Number:
Wiki Number: W023
Diagnosis: Bipolar Disorder
US Patients: 3% in lifetime
World Patients: W2%
Sex Ratio:
Age Onset: Age 25
Brain Area: Below (ventral)pfc, less active on left for depression; on the right for mania.
Symptoms: 71% genetic +childhood abuse and stress; substance abuse; impulsive
Progression: 6% suicide, 35% self-harm;4 days down-months/7 days mania
Causes: dopamine higher in manic; lower in depressive; manic, glutamate higher in left pfc in manic
Medications: lithium, anti-psychotics-in-manic phase; mood-stabilizers; only lithium for children
Therapies: Teaching coping strategies for relapses and taking medication consistently
Please see the support materials for Bipolar I and for Bipolar II which follow.
4 CURRENT ARTICLES
FROM PUBMED
The world-wide medical research
reports chosen for each diagnosis
Clicking each title opens the
PubMed article’s summary-abstract.
- Evidence for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Atypical Antipsychoticsby Veronika Krejčí on May 18, 2024
Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), also known as atypical antipsychotics, are a newer class of antipsychotic drugs used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and related psychiatric conditions. The plasma concentration of antipsychotic drugs is a valid measure of the drug at its primary target structure in the brain, and therefore determines the efficacy and safety of these drugs. However, despite the well-known high variability in pharmacokinetics of these substances, psychiatric...
- The role of metabolic syndrome as a mediator in the relationship between CCL11 levels and the presence of a mood episode with mixed features in young adults with bipolar disorderby Letícia Vasques Bender on May 18, 2024
Mixed features presentation in bipolar disorder (BD) represents the most severe form of the disease. BD may lead to cognitive and functional deterioration, a process known as neuroprogression, which appears to be exacerbated by increased serum levels of CCL11, a neuroprogression-related cytokine. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is highly prevalent in BD, and it is known that the presence of MetS may increase inflammation, which may contribute to increased CCL11 levels, and consequently impact on the...
- Editorial: Combining Genetic and Clinical Predictors of Bipolar Disorder: Towards Improving the Diagnostic Precision in Youthby En-Nien Tu on May 18, 2024
No abstract
- A randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of time-restricted eating versus Mediterranean diet on symptoms and quality of life in bipolar disorderby Sheri L Johnson on May 18, 2024
BACKGROUND: The primary objective of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to establish the effectiveness of time-restricted eating (TRE) compared with the Mediterranean diet for people with bipolar disorder (BD) who have symptoms of sleep disorders or circadian rhythm sleep-wake disruption. This work builds on the growing evidence that TRE has benefits for improving circadian rhythms. TRE and Mediterranean diet guidance will be offered remotely using self-help materials and an app, with...