How to cure the disease bipolar personality disorder. Bipolar disorders: symptoms, treatment, causes, diagnosis, signs

Content

Due to the active rhythm of life, mental problems are becoming more common. Every third inhabitant of the planet has experienced a sudden change in mood - when apathy turns into euphoria. If two opposing types of behavior are excessively expressed, the personality is said to be bipolar. Psychotherapists study and treat the problem.

What is bipolar disorder

Officially, they started talking about a separate disease in 1986 after the publication of works on the psychology of the German scientist Kraepelin. Until 1993, the pathology was called manic-depressive psychosis. After creating the directory International Classification They renamed it diseases. This is how the term bipolar affective disorder (BAD) came into being.

This is a mental illness, the manifestations of which are associated with alternating manic and depressive states. In ICD-10, BAR is coded F31–F31.7. Bipolarity varies in duration and intensity of periods. They can abruptly replace each other or alternate with intervals of clearing (intermission).

The mechanism of development of the disease is unknown. According to various estimates by psychiatrists, the disorder affects from 1 to 7% of people. The disorder most often occurs between the ages of 15 and 30.

Men and women representatives different nations suffer from bipolarity equally.

Types

Based on the number of episodes of mania and depression, the disease is divided into the following types:

• Unipolar BAR. The patient experiences only manic or depressive phases.
• Correctly intermittent type. Characterized by periodic bouts of depression and elevation of mood. They follow a clear sequence and are separated by stages of “enlightenment.”
• Double form. Manic behavior gives way to depression, followed by the intermission stage.
• Circular. Bipolarity is characterized by a regular alternation of attacks, but there is no “clearing” stage.
• Incorrectly moving type. Mania and depression alternate through intermission, but there is no clear sequence of stages.

Symptoms

Clinical picture bipolar affective disorder depends on phases. Examples:

• During a manic episode, a person performs unusual actions. He can quit his job, buy antiques, write poetry.
• During a depressive period, the patient feels apathy and is capable of becoming addicted to alcohol or drugs.

Phase changes occur every few weeks, months or years.

Manic episodes are on average three times shorter than depressive episodes. The duration of intermission between mood changes can be up to 3–7 years. In certain types of disorders, “light” gaps are completely absent.

Bipolar depression

It is characterized by a triad of symptoms: low motor and mental activity, decreased overall mental tone. The person has no appetite and appears sad or depressed. In women with bipolarity at the stage of depression, menstruation disappears and self-esteem drops.

With mild depression, bipolar disorder is characterized by daily fluctuations in well-being.

A pessimistic mood appears after waking up, but in the evening activity increases and mood improves. Symptoms of bipolar disorder depend on the stage of depression:

• On initial stage there is indifference to what is happening around, a tearful mood, difficulty falling asleep or drowsiness. Mental and physical activity decreases.
• As depression increases, unreasonable anxiety and obsessive thoughts arise. The person's speech becomes slow. Problems falling asleep develop into insomnia. With age, anxiety comes to the fore in the clinical picture of depressive bipolarity. The person experiences internal anxiety and panic attacks are possible.
• In the third stage, all symptoms intensify. The patient is suicidal. His speech becomes quiet and emotionless. Psychotic affects appear: hallucinations and illusions, delusions, self-blame, depressive stupor - when a person spends a long time in one position.
• During the reactive stage, symptoms begin to subside. The patient still has apathy, but sometimes there is increased talkativeness and motor activity.

Manic phase

Bipolar personality disorder in the exalted stage is accompanied by increased self-esteem and delusions of grandeur. A person does things that are unusual for himself during the period of intermission. The manic phase has 5 stages of development:

• Hypomanic. Characterized by high spirits. A person has a feeling of euphoria and vigor. Sleep duration decreases. His speech becomes fast and verbose.
• Severe mania. There is energy and carelessness. The patient constantly jokes, tries to write poetry, and builds bright prospects for the future. At this stage of bipolarity, a personality disorder appears and the person associates himself with celebrities.
• Manic frenzy. It is characterized by an increase in symptoms, the occurrence of delirium and disordered speech.
• Motor sedation. The elevated mood remains, but the patient's activity decreases. Speech is gradually returning to normal.
• Reactive. Symptoms fade or disappear completely. A recent mood swing leads to slight lethargy.

Reasons

Why bipolar disorder occurs is not completely clear. The development of bipolar disorder is influenced by heredity, addiction to alcohol, drugs, external reasons. Other risk factors include:

• stress;
• death of a loved one;
• sexual violence;
• money problems;
• imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain - serotonin, adrenaline, norepinephrine;
• increased suspiciousness;
• hormonal imbalance in women - pregnancy, postpartum period, menopause;
• uncontrolled use of psychotropic drugs;
• somatic diseases - head injuries, stroke, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy.

Genetic

The risk of developing bipolar disorder increases by 60–70% if such a diagnosis was made to one of the blood relatives.

Research has shown that children with a certain set of genes become more susceptible to mental illness than others.

According to some sources, the transmission of such a set of chromosomes increases through generations.

Personal

Bipolar affective disorder is more often diagnosed in people with the following personality types:

• Schizoid. A person prefers privacy and is prone to emotional coldness and monotony.
• Statothymic. Such people are characterized by an increased need for order and like to plan their actions in advance.
• Melancholic. Characterized by increased fatigue and restraint in emotions.
• Hypothymic. People who lack self-confidence, are prone to self-flagellation and depression.

External

Bipolar affective disorder is possible when a person lives in unfavorable conditions. The risk of developing bipolar disorder increases if a person is constantly exposed to stress - at home or at work. Mental disorder is possible when living in snowy regions for a long time, if there is no full-fledged physical activity.

Diagnostics

Like other mental disorders, bipolar disorder is difficult to diagnose using instrumental or laboratory tests. The disease is confirmed by a psychiatrist based on:

1. symptoms;
2. personal conversation with the patient;
3. medical history;
4. complaints from relatives.

It often takes months or decades for a doctor to diagnose bipolar disorder. When making a diagnosis, the following criteria are taken into account:

• the presence of episodes of depression and mania that last at least 1 week;
• affective symptoms are not explained by the use medicines, concomitant diseases or schizophrenia;
• signs of bipolar disorder affect the patient’s quality of life, worsen his social and professional skills;
• episodes of decline and rise in mood are periodically repeated.

It is important to differentiate bipolar personality from other diseases and conditions: panic attacks, schizophrenia, depression.

To rule out head injuries and epilepsy, an electroencephalogram is performed.

To check and rule out HIV, metabolic disorders, and hormonal imbalances, a blood test is prescribed.

Treatment for Bipolar Disorder

BD is a chronic disease. It cannot be cured, but long-term drug therapy and work with a psychologist helps people with this diagnosis better control mood swings and other symptoms and achieve remission.

Most patients with mild personality disorder are treated on an outpatient basis. The acute stage of the disease requires urgent hospitalization. During remission, courses of psychotherapy are prescribed and it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

• eat right;
• stop drinking alcohol;
• quit smoking;
• walk in the fresh air more often;
• lead an active lifestyle;
• engage in self-education;
• learn to manage stress.

Medication

The list of medications and their dosage depends on the type of bipolar affective disorder and its phase. During periods of depression, antidepressants are used. These drugs are selected according to the predominant symptoms:

• Stimulant antidepressants – Fluoxetine, Venlafaxine. Used for decreased motivation, apathy, and motor retardation.
• Sedatives – Paroxetine, Mirtazapine. Used if feelings of anxiety and restlessness predominate.

During the manic phase, preference is given to the following groups of drugs:

• Atypical antipsychotics – Risperidone, Olanzapine. Prevents the occurrence of acute psychosis, suppresses excitement.
• Normalizers – lithium salts. They help stabilize mood and prevent sudden changes in bipolar phases.
• Anticonvulsants – Valproic acid. Reduces excitability and convulsive activity of the brain.

Psychotherapy

Treatment of bipolar disorder is complex. To enhance the effect of drugs and teach a patient with a personality disorder to live in harmony with the world around him and himself, psychotherapy courses are conducted. They are mandatory for patients with any type of bipolar disorder. To stabilize the patient’s behavior, the following methods are used:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy. The goal of treatment is to determine the cause of the sudden change in mood and help the patient perceive reality positively. The doctor teaches the patient how to behave correctly in stressful situations and share experiences with loved ones.
• Family therapy sessions. The psychologist simultaneously works with the patient and his relatives. This approach helps to minimize the everyday problems that lead to an exacerbation of bipolar disorder. During therapy, family members learn to resolve conflict situations peacefully.
• Group therapy. This type of treatment allows the patient to communicate with other people diagnosed with bipolar disorder. During the sessions, the patient shares his feelings from the treatment and studies the experience of other group members in dealing with the disease.

Magnetic stimulation

This is a young non-invasive method for treating bipolar disorder. The essence of stimulation is a rhythmic effect on the central nervous system variables magnetic field. The method stimulates the cerebral cortex, helps eliminate symptoms of depression and motor disorders.

Stimulation is carried out using a special apparatus. A magnetic wave sensor is placed above the patient's head and the device is turned on. One session lasts 20–40 minutes. It includes 3 sessions with different wave frequencies from 100 to 200 rhythmic stimuli. The average course of treatment is 7–10 sessions.

Repeated stimulation is carried out after 2-3 months.

Forecast

With the right treatment regimen, affective personality disorder can be stopped. Patients lead a normal lifestyle. Sometimes (depending on the frequency of attacks) people with bipolar disorder are assigned disability group 1, 2 or 3. In Russia, such patients are considered unfit for military service.

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In the twenty-first century psychological problems associated with mood disorders are becoming epidemic. Every second person has encountered melancholy, apathy, even depression.

Many people are also familiar with the state of “flight”, euphoria, when any task can be accomplished. But it happens that these moods are expressed so excessively that it goes beyond normal.

In such cases, we can talk about psychiatric diagnosis. What is bipolar disorder?

How to distinguish neurosis from sluggish schizophrenia? find out right now.

Concept and features

What does bipolar disorder mean?

Bipolar affective disorder is a disorder associated with mood disorders.

This is a chronic endogenous mental disorder in which a person two opposite phases alternate- elevated mood, euphoria (manic phase) and low mood, depression (depression).

These periods can be different in duration and intensity, replace each other continuously or alternate with light intervals (intermission).

Bipolar disorder - quite difficult to diagnose disease. Often, when first meeting a patient, the doctor sees clinical signs of only one phase.

Therefore, bipolar depression is mistaken for ordinary depression, and the manic phase of bipolar disorder cannot always be differentiated from schizophrenia or an affective state after taking alcohol or drugs.

The exact diagnosis is often made only several years after the first episode of the disease, when both opposite phases manifest themselves.

The term “bipolar disorder” itself appeared not so long ago, in 1980. Previously in psychiatry this disease was called "manic-depressive psychosis", but this is not entirely true.

Not every patient's attacks reach such strength as to acquire the character of psychosis. Therefore, in the modern classification of mental illnesses, the term MDP has been replaced by bipolar disorder.

Today diagnosed with bipolar affective personality disorder 1-2% of the world's population lives.

What are the characteristics of manic-depressive syndrome? Find out from the video:

Classification

Depending on how the disease manifests itself, bipolar disorder of the first and second types is distinguished:

1. Bipolar affective disorder type 1. The first type of bipolar disorder is diagnosed if the disease first manifests itself with a manic episode and subsequently these episodes are repeated, regardless of the presence of depressive phases. This type is more common in men than in women.
2. Bipolar affective disorder type 2. The second type of bipolar disorder is characterized by a predominance of depressive phases. In this case, there must be a history of at least one hypomanic episode. This type of disease affects women more and, in general, bipolar disorder 2 is more common than type 1 of the disease.

Causes

At the moment, psychiatry is still studying bipolar affective disorder and it is not entirely clear what exactly provokes the onset of the disease. However, the main risk factors have been identified.

Phases of the disease

Depressed

Typically, patients diagnosed with bipolar affective personality disorder Most often they face the depressive phase this disease.

The duration of depressive episodes is longer than manic episodes and ranges from a month to a year or even two years in the absence of treatment.

Features of the disorder in children

BAR most often occurs during puberty, but can manifest itself at the age of six or seven years.

However, due to the complexity of diagnosis, it is not immediately possible to accurately classify the disease; sometimes it takes years.

A distinctive feature of bipolar disorder in children is a rapid change between phases of mania and depression. Such children are often characterized by absent-minded attention, it is difficult for them to concentrate on one task, so they are rarely successful in school.

The phase of mania in childhood differs from that in adults; it is less pronounced. It usually manifests itself as increased activity, talkativeness, irritability, and reluctance to follow generally accepted norms and rules.

During the depression phase, children become withdrawn, lethargic, passive. They cannot find a common language with peers and adults.

Teenagers suffering from bipolar depression are prone to alcohol and drug use. They constantly think about suicide and often commit it.

About the features of bipolar affective disorder in adolescence you can find out from the video:

What is manic schizophrenia?

Not so long ago in psychiatry there was such a diagnosis as manic schizophrenia.

What distinguished her from her was the change of phases increased excitability with moderate delirium and depression.

Later, psychiatrists identified it as a separate disease - manic-depressive psychosis. In modern classifiers of mental illnesses, the diagnosis of “manic schizophrenia” has been replaced by “bipolar affective disorder.”

In the manic stage of MDP, the patient really easily confused with a person with schizophrenia, with these diseases psychosis with similar symptoms can develop. Also, both of these diseases are of the same nature.

Video about how manic syndrome manifests itself - delusions of grandeur:

Schizoaffective disorder - manic type

A disease is known that exists at the intersection of schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. This is a manic type of schizoaffective personality disorder.

With this disease, within one attack they manifest themselves as manic, and schizophrenic symptoms. As with a mood disorder, the patient exhibits excessive excitability, activity, and often aggression.

He is visited by ideas of his own greatness and persecution.

Typical schizophrenic symptoms are also noticeable, not typical for BAR.

Schizoaffective disorder of the manic type is characterized by an acute onset with pronounced symptoms. The disease responds well to therapy and after a few weeks recovery occurs.

Schizoaffective psychosis is clearly illustrated in this video:

You can go through the split personality test on our website.

How to get BAR?

If there is a genetic predisposition, a person is at risk, but can he intentionally cause himself a disease like bipolar disorder?

In psychiatry, there are cases where one of the twins was diagnosed with bipolar personality disorder in adolescence, and the second did not encounter this disease until the end of his life.

At the moment it has not been conclusively established that gives impetus to the development of the disease.

All the reasons leading to bipolar disorder only increase the likelihood of getting sick, but even the combination of all the negative factors does not mean for sure that a person will have this disease.

Bipolar affective personality disorder is mood disorder It does not lead to a decrease in mental abilities or loss of any skills.

People affected by this disease forced to constantly take medications, but at the same time they live full life, work and start families. With the help of doctors, bipolar disorder can be kept under control.

Many people are characterized by unexpected changes in mood; this is a feature of their mental makeup. But even highly emotional individuals are far from the intensity of emotions manifested in bipolar affective disorder (BAD). Bipolar disorder, what it is and how to live with this disorder, let's figure it out.

Features of bipolar personality disorder

Bipolar personality disorder is a severe mental pathology that occurs with a sharp change in phases of mania and depression. Previously, psychiatrists called this disease “manic-depressive psychosis.” According to statistics, about 1.2% of the population suffers from bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder peaks between the ages of 20 and 21. Mental illness most often develops in people 16-50 years old.

This is interesting. BAD has gender characteristics. It is noted that in women the disease begins with a depressive phase, and in men it debuts with manic manifestations.

Frequent changes in mental state deplete even the most powerful nervous system and can lead to suicidal attempts in the patient. Each stage (depressive and manic) can last from 2-3 days to several years.

The culprits of the disease

Leading figures in psychiatry have long tried to answer the question: “How do you get bipolar disorder?” They carried out various tests in the hope of establishing the exact origins of the disease, but never came to a consensus.

Bipolar disorder or the struggle of two entities

It has been established that bipolar disorder is a multifactorial pathology (arising due to many combined factors):

Heredity

One of the main causes of bipolar disorder is genetic (accounting for about 80-85% of cases). But it is difficult to determine in advance that a person is at risk. For the development of the disease, a combination of certain pathogenic genes and other predisposing factors is required.

Important. If one parent is diagnosed with a mood disorder, the risk of developing a mental disorder in the child is 50%. As a rule, children in this case show not only affective, but also schizoid deviations.

It has been established that the risk of developing bipolar disorder increases 8 times if there are close relatives of people (blood relatives) suffering from this pathology.

Risk factors

Heredity is the underlying cause of affective disorder. But for the development of the disease, influence is also necessary external environment. Some factors become a kind of “trigger”; they awaken “dormant” abnormal genes and create excellent conditions for the onset of the disease. This:

• severe traumatic brain injury;
• suffered strokes, heart attacks;
• hormonal disorders (imbalance);
• alcohol abuse, drug addiction;
• prolonged stress, depression, traumatic situation;
• disorders of brain activity (especially in the production of neurotransmitters: norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin).

It is also noted that the child is predisposed to the appearance of bipolar disorder in older parents (late-born children).

Affective disorder consists of alternating two stages: depression and mania. A sharp change in mood is a sign of psychological instability; this phase becomes the main one and determines the symptoms of the disease.

Phases of mania and depression

Episodes of depression

During the depressive stage, the most important symptom in a person is a decrease in mood. Depression and melancholy are constantly felt by the patient in this phase; even the most joyful news and favorable events cannot improve the condition. Other symptoms of the depressive phase include:

1. Insomnia.
2. Growing anxiety.
3. Losing the sense of time.
4. Increased fatigue.
5. Decreased sexual desire.
6. Motor retardation.
7. Slowing down thought processes.
8. Appetite disorder (decreased/increased).
9. Loss of vitality (lethargy, indifference to everything).
10. Constant thoughts about one’s own uselessness, worthlessness, loss of self-esteem.

Depressive periods last longer compared to the manic phase and are much more severe. The most dangerous symptom of the depressive stage of bipolar disorder is obsessive thoughts of suicide.

Depressive phase with “ritual” thoughts

Important. Close relatives will have to especially carefully monitor the patient’s condition during this period. He often experiences not just thoughts, but also attempts at suicide.

The severity of depressive symptoms varies throughout the day. A person feels worse when waking up in the morning. It was during this time that there was a surge in suicide attempts. By evening, the patient's condition noticeably stabilizes (improves).

Episodes of mania

Mania is a “light” period in a person with bipolar disorder. This period is characterized by a state of euphoria, stable optimism and an excited state. Bipolar disorder in the manic stage is characterized by the following manifestations in the patient:

1. Megalomania.
2. Constantly high spirits.
3. Excessive restlessness, activity.
4. Distracted attention, inability to concentrate.
5. Sleep problems. The patient practically stops sleeping.
6. Difficulty concentrating and concentrating.
7. The appearance of aggressive behavior, psychomotor agitation.
8. A feeling of love for everything: people, animals, things, objects, plants.
9. Increased sexual activity. A person becomes promiscuous in intimate relationships.
10. Talkativeness. The patient speaks so quickly that sometimes his speech becomes incoherent and meaningless.

The manic stage is also life-threatening. During this period, a person shows an extreme degree of frivolity in relation to his own caution. The false idea of ​​personal invulnerability leads to life-threatening situations.

Typology of affective stages

Psychosomatics and types of bipolar disorder

When diagnosing pathology, doctors also take into account the psychosomatic symptoms characteristic of the disease. These are obsessive delusions and hallucinations. They depend on the phase of the BAR:

• in the stage of mania, delusions of persecution, grandeur and erotic orientation become widespread;
• the depressive phase is marked by nihilistic (denial of the obvious) and hypochondriacal delusions (feelings of guilt, denial of oneself).

Based on all these symptoms, psychiatrists define two main types of affective disorder:

1. BAR I type. Classics of pathology. Mental illness manifests itself by alternating mania and depression. This type is more often observed in men.
2. BAR type II. The disease progresses from a depressive attack to hypomania (prolonged hyperactivity, mild form of mania). This type is more pronounced in women.

The change in stages of mania and depression in bipolar disorder is individual and variable. More often, the pathology “starts” with a manic phase, which can last 2-16 weeks. And the depression phase is longer, it can last up to 8-9 months. As the disease progresses, the periods of “rest” become shorter.

Clinical picture of the manic phase

According to the observations of psychiatrists, bipolar illness can occur without the stage of mania (circulatory form). BAD can be monophasic (the classic version of the change of two phases) and have a dual form (after a couple of cycles it exhibits intermission: a period of complete restoration of the personality).

What to expect from the disease

The life of a person suffering from bipolar disorder changes in a negative way. Families are destroyed, friends leave. The BAR mercilessly makes its own adjustments to the work and plans of the sick person. The lives of relatives living together are also affected.

During the manic stage, a person begins to spend money senselessly, quits work, and enters into indiscriminate intimate relationships. He commits frivolous acts that he simply cannot control. And depression brings with it the desire to end with a meaningless existence.

How to live further?

What to do if you are diagnosed with bipolar personality disorder? Don't despair! After all, the prognosis for this disease is quite favorable. BAR goes away completely after adequate therapy. After thorough testing and examination of the patient, the psychiatrist develops an individual treatment plan, which includes:

• in the stage of depression: antidepressants;
• in the manic phase: anticonvulsants, antipsychotics and antipsychotics.

Selective inhibitors and mood stabilizers are also prescribed (regardless of the stage).

How to live with bipolar disorder

An important role in the rehabilitation of the patient is played by his close circle (family, relatives and friends). Their support is very important for a person suffering from bipolar disorder. The following recommendations must also be observed:

1. Quitting bad habits.
2. Eat a nutritious and varied diet.
3. Engage in gentle sports (swimming, walking with poles, physical education gymnastics).
4. Get your daily routine in order (try to go to bed and wake up at the same time).

What about work?

Affective disorder involves some changes in the patient’s work environment. But this does not mean that you need to abandon professions that require high qualifications. The restrictions apply to areas of activity that require frequent long-term business trips and night shift work.

By the way. Experts say that there is a direct connection between the manic phase of bipolar disorder and creativity.

Many famous, talented people admitted to having affective disorders:

• Britney Spears (American pop singer);
• Van Gogh (legendary genius artist);
• Demi Lovato (American singer and actress);
• Vivien Leigh (queen of the silver screen of the last century);
• Marilyn Monroe (famous film star, Hollywood legend);
• Catherine Zeta-Jones (British film actress, Oscar winner);
• Ruby Rose (Australian model, television presenter, DJ, singer and film actress).

Although the disease makes adjustments to the human personality, they are not as significant as with schizophrenia. With well-chosen therapy and careful adherence to the doctor’s recommendations, periods of remission of bipolar disorder will increase, and the number of exacerbations will gradually decrease.

This disorder came to prominence several years ago when bipolar disorder was diagnosed. Catherine Zeta Jones on living with bipolar disorder at Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Millions of people suffer from this, and I am only one of them. I say this loudly so that people know that there is no shame in seeking professional help in such a situation.

Catherine Zeta-Jones, actress

Largely thanks to the courage of the black-haired Hollywood diva, other celebrities began to admit that they had experienced this psychosis: Mariah Carey Mariah Carey: My Battle with Bipolar Disorder, Mel Gibson, Ted Turner... Doctors suggest Celebrities With Bipolar Disorder bipolar disorder and in those who have already died famous people: Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Vivien Leigh, Marilyn Monroe...

The listing of names familiar to everyone is only necessary to show that psychosis is very close to you. And perhaps even you.

What is bipolar disorder

At first glance, there's nothing wrong with it. Just mood swings. For example, in the morning you want to sing and dance with the joy of being alive. In the middle of the day, you suddenly lash out at your colleagues who are distracting you from something important. By the evening, a severe depression rolls over you, when you can’t even raise your hand... Sound familiar?

The line between mood swings and manic-depressive psychosis (this is the second name of this disease) is thin. But it is there.

The worldview of those who suffer from bipolar disorder constantly swings between two poles. From an extreme maximum (“What a thrill it is to just live and do something!”) to an equally extreme minimum (“Everything is bad, we’re all going to die. So, maybe there’s nothing to wait for, it’s time to commit suicide?!”). The highs are called periods of mania. Minimums - periods.

A person realizes how stormy he is and how often these storms have no reason, but he cannot do anything with himself.

Manic-depressive psychosis is exhausting, worsens relationships with others, sharply reduces the quality of life and can ultimately lead to suicide.

Where does bipolar disorder come from?

Mood swings are familiar to many and are not considered something out of the ordinary. This makes bipolar disorder quite difficult to diagnose. Nevertheless, scientists are coping with this more and more successfully. In 2005, for example, it was established Prevalence, Severity, and Comorbidity of Twelve-month DSM-IV Disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R) that about 5 million Americans suffer from manic-depressive psychosis in one form or another.

Bipolar disorder is more common in women than in men. Why is not known.

However, despite a large statistical sample, the exact causes of bipolar disorders have not yet been clarified. What is known is that:

1. Manic-depressive psychosis can occur at any age. Although it most often appears in late adolescence and early adulthood.
2. It may be caused by genetics. If one of your ancestors suffered from this disease, there is a risk that it will come knocking on your door.
3. The disorder is associated with an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. Mainly - .
4. The trigger is sometimes severe stress or trauma.

How to Recognize Early Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

To detect unhealthy mood swings, you first need to find out whether you are experiencing emotional extremes - mania and depression.

7 Key Signs of Mania

1. You experience elation and a feeling of happiness for long periods (several hours or more).
2. Your need for sleep is reduced.
3. You speak quickly. And so much so that those around you do not always understand, and you do not have time to formulate your thoughts. As a result, it is easier for you to communicate in instant messengers or via emails than to talk to people in person.
4. You are an impulsive person: you act first, think later.
5. You easily jump from one thing to another. As a result, bottom line productivity often suffers.
6. You are confident in your abilities. It seems to you that you are faster and smarter than most of those around you.
7. You often exhibit risky behavior. For example, you agree to have sex with a stranger, buy something you can’t afford, or take part in spontaneous street races at traffic lights.

7 Key Signs of Depression

1. You often experience prolonged (several hours or more) periods of unmotivated sadness and hopelessness.
2. You become isolated in yourself. You find it difficult to come out of your shell. Therefore, you limit contact even with family and friends.
3. You have lost interest in those things that used to really captivate you, and have not gained anything new in return.
4. Your appetite has changed: it has sharply decreased or, on the contrary, you no longer control how much and what exactly you eat.
5. You regularly feel tired and lack energy. And such periods continue for quite a long time.
6. You have problems with memory, concentration and decision making.
7. Do you sometimes think about . Catch yourself thinking that life has lost its taste for you.

Manic-depressive psychosis is when you recognize yourself in almost all the situations described above. At some point in your life you clearly show signs of mania, at another - symptoms of depression.

However, sometimes it happens that the symptoms of mania and depression manifest themselves simultaneously and you cannot understand which phase you are in. This condition is called mixed mood and is also one of the signs of bipolar disorder.

What is bipolar disorder?

Depending on which episodes occur more often (manic or depressive) and how severe they are, bipolar disorder is divided into several types. Types of Bipolar Disorder.

1. Type 1 disorder. It is severe, alternating periods of mania and depression are strong and deep.
2. Disorder of the second type. Mania does not manifest itself very clearly, but it covers with depression just as globally as in the case of the first type. By the way, Catherine Zeta-Jones was diagnosed with exactly this. In the case of the actress, the trigger for the development of the disease was throat cancer, which her husband, Michael Douglas, had been battling for a long time.

Regardless of what type of manic-depressive psychosis we are talking about, the disease in any case requires treatment. And preferably faster.

What to do if you suspect you have bipolar disorder

Don't ignore your feelings. If you are familiar with 10 or more of the signs listed above, this is already a reason to consult a doctor. Especially if from time to time you catch yourself feeling suicidal.

First, go see a therapist. The medic will suggest Diagnosis Guide for Bipolar Disorder You need to do several tests, including a urine test and a blood test to check your thyroid hormone levels. Often, hormonal problems (in particular, developing, hypo- and hyperthyroidism) are similar to bipolar disorder. It is important to exclude them. Or treat if they are found.

The next step will be a visit to a psychologist or psychiatrist. You will have to answer questions about your lifestyle, mood swings, relationships with other people, childhood memories, traumas, and family history of illnesses and drug use incidents.

Based on the information received, the specialist will prescribe treatment. This could be either taking medications or taking medications.

Let’s finish with the same phrase from Catherine Zeta-Jones: “There is no need to endure. Bipolar disorder can be controlled. And it's not as difficult as it seems."

Bipolar personality disorder is a common disorder in modern society. The disease seriously complicates life, but with timely medical and psychotherapeutic correction and the support of relatives, the condition of those suffering from bipolar disorder improves significantly.

What does bipolar disorder mean?

Bipolar mental disorder or otherwise bipolar affective disorder (BD) is a complex endogenous disorder that manifests itself in alternating states or stages: mania and depression. Previously, the disorder existed in medical practice as - manic-depressive psychosis (MDP), but affective psychosis does not always accompany an episode of mania, so the diagnosis was renamed.

How do people with bipolar disorder behave?

In the increasing stages of mania and bipolar affective personality disorder, eloquently makes itself felt. Such people are either in a very excited state or, on the contrary, absent-minded and very depressed. A clear sign will be speech that is very fast, confusing, and the construction of phrases is illogical. Motor excitement and bravado in behavior. They consider themselves invulnerable to danger.

Causes of bipolar disorder

Bipolar mental disorder is an illness, the main cause of which medical experts see in genetic predisposition, although there is still a lot of mystery in the inheritance mechanism itself. Other reasons:

• biological causes (chemical imbalance: disturbance in the production and synthesis of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin);
• external factors (ecology, stress).

How dangerous is bipolar disorder?

The disease bipolar endogenous disorder is an illness that leaves a huge negative imprint on the human psyche, creating certain difficulties in the interaction of the individual with society. Relatives of a person suffering from bipolar disorder also endure a certain kind of hardship, and for the person himself there are dangers associated with the disorder:

• promiscuity carries a direct threat of sexually transmitted diseases, which include such serious illnesses as HIV, hepatitis B and C;
• desire to commit suicide.

Types of bipolar disorder

Bipolar personality disorder is divided by medical specialists into 2 types:

1. BAR I type. Characterized by pronounced stages of mania, followed by prolonged depression, or the stages of mania and depression have a rapid cycle: one replaces the other, and so on several times during the year.
2. BAR type II. The manic stage does not fully develop, but there is a period of hypomania followed by severe long-term depression. Bipolar II disorder is more common in the female population.

Stages of bipolar disorder

The disorder is characterized by two extreme states, or stages, alternating or occurring simultaneously: The manic stage of bipolar disorder in the classic course of the disease goes through 5 successive phases:

1. Hypomania. The mood is at the highest optimistic level, love for everything around, people, the world. The sleep is short, the person speaks a lot, but confusedly.
2. Mania in full swing, all clinical signs are getting worse, the mood is excellent, but against its background, aggression and irritability suddenly begin to flare up. Manifestation of megalomania, verbal delirium.
3. Manic Fury. Speech is even more confused, motor restlessness and agitation; psychosis is likely at this phase.
4. Decreased motor arousal, but the mood is still excited.
5. Reactive stage- the condition is stabilizing.

Depressive stage – 4 phases:

1. Start. Decreased activity and mood. Sleep disorders.
2. Increasing depression– severe depression, lethargy.
3. Severe depression- “tunnel” consciousness, delirium, thoughts of death.
4. Reactive phase. Gradual reduction of symptoms to normal.

Exacerbation of bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder syndromes worsen during stressful situations. The old medical name manic-depressive psychosis has been abolished, because psychosis does not always accompany bipolar disorder, but in some cases, with exacerbation and severe psychosis, psychosis occurs, during which vocal, auditory or visual loss of orientation in space occurs. Exacerbation is provoked by stress, changes in life, and in women, these are features of reproductive cycles.

Bipolar disorder - symptoms and signs

Bipolar affective personality disorder - symptoms depend on the phase of the disease, associated conditions and gender. It is known that in women the disease is more severe than in men; among women there are more suicides and affective disorders, especially during pregnancy and after childbirth. The first symptoms and signs of bipolar disorder can appear in childhood at the age of 5–6 years.

Bipolar disorder - symptoms and signs in men

IN famous film"Mr. Jones", whose main character Jones was played by Richard Gere, has manic-depressive psychosis, all the signs are shown very clearly and intensely, he lives only for the moment and death follows on his heels. Jones rushes from one extreme to another, ready to love all women, but when depression sets in, he is a completely different person, tired of himself and life. The film is useful to watch as a visual aid of what happens to the strong half of humanity diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder in men, symptoms in the depressive phase:

• Type 1 is typical (bipolar);
• absent-mindedness, noticeable even to others;
• negligence, unkempt appearance;
• sleep disorders (insomnia);
• physiological disorders ( erectile dysfunction, weight loss).

Symptoms of the manic phase:

• distortion of reality;
• speech is fast, confusing, jumping on different topics without finishing the previous ones;
• thoughts jump, many ideas arise;
• high creative activity;
• hypersexuality;
• aggressive, impulsive behavior;
• substance use;
• all the money that is available can be spent in one day.

Bipolar disorder - symptoms and signs in women

Women by their nature are more emotional than men, for them it’s all or nothing, so the signs of bipolar disorder in the fair half of humanity are more pronounced and women are characterized by bipolar personality disorder type 2 (unipolar). The course of the disease is further complicated by the fact that it is difficult to drug therapy, and a woman has a special hormonal system on which reproductive cycles depend: puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause. Characteristic symptoms and signs of bipolar disorder in women:

• depression is longer lasting and more debilitating than mania;
• severe drowsiness;
• a disorder in the functioning of the thyroid gland, which may manifest itself as disturbances menstrual cycle, weight gain or loss;
• during periods of depression, he stops taking care of his appearance, hygiene;
• tearfulness;
• lethargy;
• in the manic phase, hypersexuality is possible, which is difficult to cope with, promiscuity, which may not even be remembered after the end of mania.

Bipolar disorder in children

In young children, symptoms are often erased; in less than 2%, the disease may first appear at the age of 5–6 years. Bipolar affective disorder - diagnosis in children is difficult and it is important for the doctor to collect a thorough history: do any relatives have this disorder, how did pregnancy and childbirth go? Parents more often note the following alarming signs, which together give rise to suspicion of bipolar disorder:

• restless, short sleep;
• extreme activity;
• hysteria and impulsive behavior;
• rarely delusional thinking.

Signs of Bipolar Disorder in Teens

The prognosis for bipolar disorder depends on many factors. In adolescence, the onset of bipolar disorder is complicated by the so-called “hormonal shock” process; the body experiences enormous stress on the nervous, hormonal, and immune systems. The imposition of bipolar disorder on the unstable psyche of a teenager is not always noticeable, because he is already characterized by vivid emotional swings in the form of irritation, swings from irrepressible energy to depression. Bipolar personality disorder, main symptoms in adolescents:

• most often occurs at the age of 14–15 years;
• hyperactivity;
• desire for excitement, dangerous hobbies that promote the production of adrenaline (playing with death);
• desire to try psychoactive substances;
• conversations about death;
• inappropriate behavior;
• sleep problems.

How do you know if you have bipolar disorder?

How to treat bipolar disorder?

There is no clear answer to the question of whether bipolar disorder can be treated; some people may experience very stable remission over the course of several years, someone learns to live with it and accept themselves this way, periodically taking medications prescribed by a doctor. IN in rare cases bipolar mental disorder does not respond to drug therapy; among such patients there is a high incidence of suicide. But you shouldn’t give up, and seeing a doctor can significantly alleviate the condition.

Bipolar endogenous personality disorder, standard treatment regimen (the choice of drugs is determined by the doctor individually):

1. Mood stabilizers. Lithium has long proven itself in the treatment of swings; it is indicated in the mania phase, helping to eliminate sharp emotional “swings”. Lithium is not safe, high doses are toxic and is taken under the supervision of weekly blood tests. The second drug of choice is Valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote), an anticonvulsant that has been successfully used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, mainly in rapidly changing cycles.
2. Antidepressants are a group of drugs that are not the main choice of the doctor, and the accumulated conflicting data on their effectiveness in treatment (during treatment in the depressive phase they can cause mania) give reason for the doctor to weigh the pros and cons before prescribing antidepressants.
3. Antipsychotic drugs - are prescribed along with mood stabilizers for severe symptoms during the manic phase, if the patient has lost contact with reality. Antipsychotic drugs: