Bipolar Disorder & Manic Depression

What is Bipolar Disorder & Manic Depression?

The term Bipolar Disorder is sometimes referred to as Manic Depression. An individual with Bipolar Disorder will experience extreme mood swings lasting weeks or months, comprised of highs and lows (depression) or alternating between periods of elation (mania) interspersed by periods of relative calm.

A distinguishing factor of Bipolar Disorder is that it affects a person’s everyday routine to a considerable degree. Additionally, the person can neither automatically snap out of the depression nor control their high behaviour completely.

What are the characteristics of Bipolar Disorder & Manic Depression?

There are three main elements to Bipolar Disorder:

Depressive symptoms include low mood, sleep disturbance, loss of appetite, a sense of pessimism and hopelessness, loss of interest or pleasure in life, reduced ability to concentrate and recurrent thoughts of death and suicide.

Manic symptoms include elevated moods or euphoria, increased activity, pressured fast speech, self-important ideas or grandiose delusions, hallucinations, reduced sleep, increased appetite for food, overspending on a large scale and all-night excesses. The person will experience a feeling of "high", "on top of the world", "better than normal" or "better than ever before".

The cycle of these mood patterns can vary.

While a person may have many of the symptoms of mania, they may also harbour severely depressive thoughts.

Some experience major episodes of elation that last from weeks to months while others have bouts that are short-lived and less intense.

Less commonly, some people may experience only depression or mania but within a regular recurring pattern.

Is there a treatment to arrest the progression of Bipolar Disorder & Manic Depression?

The exact causes of bipolar disorder are not known and at present there is no cure for bipolar disorder. Most bipolar mood disorders however, can be successfully treated with mood stabilising medication, such as Lithium.

Psychotherapy or counselling is also helpful in providing support and guidance to the person in terms of helping to identify relapses at an early stage and enable early treatment intervention.

Are there any useful teaching and learning strategies for people with this mental health difficulty?

For information on teaching and learning strategies, click here

Where can I find out more information?

Aware (Bipolar Disorder & Manic Depression)
72 Lower Leeson Street
Dublin 2
Tel: 01 661 7211
Helpline : 1890 303 302
Fax: 01 661 7217
Website: http://www.aware.ie/∞


Mental Health Ireland
Mensana House
6 Adelaide Street
Dun Laoghaire
Co Dublin
Ireland
Tel: 01 284 1166
Fax: 01 284 1736
e-mail: information@mentalhealthireland.ie
Website: http://www.mentalhealthireland.ie∞



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