Mental Health Monday: BIPOLAR DISORDER (BD)

BD is a mental health condition characterized by mood swings between extremes of hyperactivity (mania/hypomania) and depression. It is hence, also called "manic depression"
BD can be type I or type II depending on the symptoms observed

Other types are Cyclothymic BD and BD due to another medical condition. Type 1 is the most severe form.

Clinically similar mental health disorders to Bipolar Disorder are Personality Disorders, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Substance-use Disorders.

Etiology:
BD is mainly attributed to several peculiar components of an individual's genetic make-up with genetic factors accounting for about 90% of the risk.
Environmental factors also play a role however. Chronic stress in early life for example, causes severe changes...

in the centers of the brain indicated in the pathophysiology of the disease in people who are genetically predisposed to developing it.

Attempts at explaining the etiology and pathophysiology of BD have yielded various models including over-activity and under-activity...

of the ventral (dealing with perception of emotions) and dorsal (regulates emotions) parts of the limbic system respectively; hyperactivity and consequent desensitization of reward centers (including dopaminergic pathways) causing the alternation between mania and depression.

Epidemiology:
BD is the sixth leading cause of death in the world and has a global prevalence of 1-3%. There doesn't seem to be significant variations across genders, ethnic groups and social strata.

Signs and Symptoms:
BD is mainly characterized by episodes of mania and depression. Restlessness, insomnia and some elements of psychosis like hallucination may occur during mania or hypomania (shorter, less severe mania)

while the depression may cause irritability, suicidal ideation or loss of interest in usually enjoyable activities.

Management:
BD is in most cases a life-long illness and efforts are mainly directed at managing symptoms during manic and depressive episodes, prevention of...

further episodes, and improvement of quality of life through psychotherapy to help patients understand their cases and adhere to necessary regimens and pharmacologic interventions with mood stabilizers and antipsychotics.

¶ Hydrangea & Zinnia