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.
- Phelan-McDermid Syndrome-associated Psychosis: A Systematic Reviewby Mark A Colijn on November 20, 2024
CONCLUSION: Psychotic presentations in Phelan-McDermid syndrome may qualitatively differ from schizophrenia. Although numerous antipsychotics may be efficacious in the treatment of Phelan-McDermid syndrome-associated psychosis, this review most importantly highlights the paucity of available high-quality evidence to guide treatment decisions in this respect, and as such indicates the need for more reports to be published.
- Wernicke's Encephalopathy (WE) Associated with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) Presenting with Psychiatric Morbidity: Description of Two Casesby Sandeep Grover on November 20, 2024
CONCLUSION: Thiamine should be considered in women experiencing prolonged vomiting during pregnancy, and they should be closely monitored for features of WE.
- Pregnant Women Presenting to Psychiatric Emergency Services: A Retrospective Chart Review from Indiaby Manisha Murugesan on November 20, 2024
CONCLUSION: One-fifth of women in the perinatal period presenting to the ER were pregnant. Agitation and aggression were the most common reasons. Parenteral medications were commonly used, and more than a fifth required inpatient care, emphasizing the seriousness of risk.
- A Comparative Study of Internalized Stigma in Patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Affective Disorder in Remissionby Shraddha Rajendra Borhade on November 20, 2024
CONCLUSION: The study suggests that individuals with schizophrenia experience higher levels of internalized stigma in comparison to those with BPAD.