Question 1

More Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

Accepted Answer

Mixed Episodes
In a mixed episode, symptoms of both depression and mania can be present at the same time. A mixed episode can also progress to either a pure manic or depressed state. The back-and-forth emotional deregulations are why the risk of suicide is greatest during this stage.

Rapid Cycling
Rapid-cycling refers to a pattern of frequent and rapidly-occurring fluctuations of episodes exhibited during the course of bipolar disorder. Someone that qualifies as being in a state of rapid-cycling experiences four or more episodes of mania or depression within a given year. This manifested form of BPD may come and go over time and can occur at any point throughout the disorder.

Question 2

Causes and Triggers of Bipolar Disorder

Accepted Answer

There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the cause of bipolar disorder, but scientific research suggests that the onset of these mood disorders likely results from a multitude of factors and the interactions that occur between them.
Bipolar disorder is known to run in families, but genes are not the only thing at play here. While some inherit a genetic vulnerability to the disorder, many with the same genetic predisposition never develop the illness. This alone shows that there are other factors aside from genes that are responsible.

Environmental factors, such as stress or loss can act as triggers creating new episodes or exacerbating existing symptoms. Sleep deprivation and substance abuse are also known to trigger and exacerbate symptoms of BPD. The variations in severity coupled with the interplay of biological, genetic, psychological, and psychosocial elements are what cause these disorders to be so complex, and therefore difficult to treat, especially when substance abuse and bipolar disorder are combined.

There is no known cause for bipolar disorder but there are many factors that play into its development. Some are more susceptible than others, which could be due to either genetic or environmental factors, or both. Bipolar disorder is known to run in families, but there are some people with this predisposition that never end up developing the disorder, adding to the ambiguous etiology of BPD.

Advances in science and medicine continue to shift the ways in which we conceptualize and treat physical and mental illnesses. Modern technology has allowed researchers to develop significant insight into psychopathology and our state of consciousness. If you or a loved one suffer from bouts of depression or manic episodes, contact your doctor and seek help.

Question 3

Medications For Bipolar Disorder

Accepted Answer

There are several drug therapies that are very effective in treating bipolar disorder, and can help those living with it to work, go to school, and otherwise lead full, productive, normal lives while managing their disease.

In the initial stages of treatment, medication may need to be adjusted until you and your doctor find the right dosage and the right drugs. It often involves a “cocktail” of different drugs which can be dangerous if taken improperly, but with careful monitoring of side effects and symptoms, you will eventually find a program that works for you.

Current trends in bipolar medication favor mood stabilizers. This class of drugs works for many in reducing or eliminating mood cycling, and for some, this means not having any more depressive episodes.

It is important to note that traditional antidepressants are not effective in treating bipolar disorder. In many cases, they can actually exacerbate symptoms and make depressive episodes far worse than they normally would be. Taking all medications as prescribed is essential for success.

Some of these medications include:
Lithium For Mood Stabilization
Lithium is usually the first course of active treatment, as it controls mania. However, those who are affected by rapid mood cycling or mixed episodes may not find it as effective. Lithium also comes with its fair share of side effects, including:
Weight gain
Drowsiness Weakness
Thyroid issues
Inability to focus
Nausea
Vertigo
Diarrhea

Anticonvulsants For Bipolar Disorder
Generally prescribed for seizure disorders, anticonvulsants have been found to be effective in controlling rapid cycling and mixed episodes. These medications include:
Depakote (valproic acid)
Tegretol (carbamazepine)
Lamictal (lamotrigine)
Topamax (topiramate)

Mood Stabilizers For Bipolar Disorder
Additional mood stabilizers may optimize the course of medication for bipolar disorder. These can include:
Lamictal (lamotrigine)
Seroquel (quetiapine)
Symbyax (olanzapine and fluoxetine)
Zyprexa (olanzapine)

Antipsychotics For Bipolar Disorder
If a patient tends to lose touch with reality during their manic or depressive episodes, an antipsychotic may be explored. They may also be indicated if mood stabilizers have proven ineffective or may be combined with mood stabilizing drugs. Antipsychotic medications commonly used to treat bipolar disorder include:
Abilify (aripiprazole)
Clozaril (clozapine)
Geodon (ziprasidone)
Haldol (haloperidol)
Risperidone (risperdal)
Seroquel (quetiapine)
Zyprexa (olanzapine)

Question 4

Bipolar Disorder Treatment

Accepted Answer

Behavioral Therapy
Similar to addiction therapy, behavioral therapy is the overarching term used to describe the various types of therapy that have arisen to combat mental health disorders. The goal of such treatment is to help the patient see the negative, unhealthy or self-destructive patterns in their life and seek to change them since many of these behaviors are ones that are learned or have developed through repetition.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – One of the most popular and effective therapeutic treatments for bipolar disorder, as the name suggests, CBT combines the practices of behavioral therapy with cognitive therapy. Such treatment focuses on how beliefs and thoughts affect one’s moods and actions and seek to solve current and fixable problems. Ideally, such micro-actions will positively change someone’s behavioral and thought patterns in the long term.

Electroconvulsive Therapy
ECT, also known as shock therapy is an effective treatment for several mental disorders, despite what your initial feelings towards it might be. Initially introduced in the 30’s and made infamous through movies such as, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” ECT was much different back then than it is now. At the time, muscle relaxants were not developed or put in use, and the doctor’s ability to modulate the shock voltage to the brain was arcane at best. As a result, patients would regularly suffer broken bones or various injuries due to the violent convulsions and seizures caused by the electric shock to the brain. These days, however, ECT is used for those who do not respond to therapy or medication and, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it has shown to be useful in aiding nearly 80% of people who suffer from clinical depression.
There are two types of ECT, bilateral and unilateral. With bilateral ECT, electrodes are placed on both sides of the head, and the shock affects the entirety of the brain. With unilateral ECT, a single electrode is situated directly at the top of one’s head, and another is placed on the right side of the temple. This is meant to affect only the right side of one’s brain. Both forms have been shown to be extremely effective at lessening or removing the most severe symptoms of bipolar disorder including catatonia, psychosis, and suicidality.

Question 5

Substance Abuse and Bipolar Disorder

Accepted Answer

In a national study, about 56 percent of people diagnosed with BPDA experienced drug or alcohol addiction at some point in their lifetime. Although it may not be a cause of BPD, substance abuse frequently co-occurs with BPD and can worsen the symptoms of an episode, along with the overall course of the disorder.

Drugs such as alcohol or tranquilizers can trigger symptoms of depressive episodes, whereas stimulants like cocaine, amphetamines, or ecstasy trigger symptoms of mania. Unfortunately, many turn to drugs or alcohol as a form of self-medicating to weaken the painful feelings of emotional dysregulation but end up intensifying the effects in the process.

Substance abuse is also known to cause alterations in brain chemistry, especially in cases of chronic use. Even a person with a clean bill of health can develop bipolar disorder from frequent drug use. A dual diagnosis of BPD and substance abuse is very difficult to treat, given that many of the symptoms overlap. It’s important to understand the risks associated with drug use, especially those that are diagnosed with or have the potential to develop bipolar disorder.

Bipolar Disorder

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Types Of Bipolar Disorders

Bipolar I

Bipolar II

General Bipolarism

Cyclothymia

Signs of Bipolar Disorder

We Treat The Addiction
& Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Treatment: What To Expect At Peaks Recovery

Structure

Growth

Support

Admissions

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More On Bipolar Disorder

More Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

Causes and Triggers of Bipolar Disorder

Medications For Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder Treatment

Substance Abuse and Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Types Of Bipolar Disorders

Bipolar I

Bipolar II

General Bipolarism

Cyclothymia

Signs of Bipolar Disorder

We Treat The Addiction& Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Treatment: What To Expect At Peaks Recovery

Structure

Growth

Support

Admissions

Admissions Line

More On Bipolar Disorder

More Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

Causes and Triggers of Bipolar Disorder

Medications For Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder Treatment

Substance Abuse and Bipolar Disorder

We Treat The Addiction
& Bipolar Disorder