Bipolar depression is a mood disorder whose major characteristics are frequent and extreme changes in mood. these mood cycles tend to alternate between two extremes of either intense excitement (mania) or low mood (depression). however, it seems like states of depression tend to happen more frequently than the elation or euphoric ones.
Several yet unverified factors have been attributed as the real causes of the illness. one of the most accepted theories about the development of manic depressive disorders suggests that the illness has a genetic origin. Research has shown that the condition is more widespread within members of same family.
These studies also observed that some individuals are highly predisposed to developing this condition due to certain inheritable genetic flaws. these genetic flaws seem to cause various neurological complications that ultimately generate the various bipolar disorder symptoms. Examples of these problems include myelin sheath deformities in addition to an imbalance of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. however, even after all these studies, doctors are still not completely sure about the actual origins of this ailment.
Another group of individuals who are highly susceptible to bipolar disorders are persons with regular habits of substance abuse. The use of narcotics and stimulants such as alcohol, heroin and cocaine are very common among young adults who suffer from this disorder. As a result of this, doctors usually find themselves accosted by a difficult task of distinguishing between mood fluctuations associated with bipolar disorders from the drug induced emotional states.
Other symptoms that are experienced during the depressive phase of this illness are continuous gloomy mood, feelings of desperation and hopelessness, acutely low energy levels and fatigue, diminished physical and mental abilities among others.
Apart from feeling high and euphoric during the manic episode patients also experience several other physical and psychological complications. these problems include too much energy, over optimism, lack of need for rest, rapid thought and speech processes, talkativeness, reduced inhibition and risk taking, agitation and insomnia.
Patients are deemed to be experiencing severe bipolar disorder when they start displaying psychotic symptoms which can include hallucinations, delusions and suicidal ideation. these signs of psychosis are sometimes mistaken and medically treated as schizophrenia. During such periods patients start behaving in risky ways that could be harmful to themselves and others. They may thus need to be forcefully kept in secluded location until a point where they become psychologically stable.
Once diagnosis has been carried out and the bipolar symptoms confirmed, bipolar treatment is in most cases done with mood stabilizers, psychotherapy or both. Other types of medication such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants are also used for bipolar disorder treatment though quite rarely. Complete recovery from bipolar depression rarely happens even though patients who consistently use their medications as prescribed in most cases manage lead a normal life.
Identifying the Symptoms and Treatments of Bipolar Depression
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