Bipolar

Bipolar disorder was previously known as manic depression.

There are two main types of bipolar disorder:

1. Bipolar Disorder I - People with bipolar disorder I tend to experience mania for longer periods of time.  Some people also experience psychotic symptoms which include delusions and hallucinations.
2. Bipolar Disorder II - People with bipolar disorder II tend to experience mania for shorter periods of time e.g. hours to days.  They do not have psychotic symptoms.

The onset of bipolar disorder is most common in peoples' twenties, though it may sometimes start in adolescence. Bipolar disorder occurs in about 2% of the population and tends to occur equally among men and women.

People with bipolar disorder experience recurrent episodes of extreme mood variation from major depression to very elevated mood (mania). The extent of mood range varies between people. Some experience both mania and depressed mood, others only the 'highs' without depression and episodes can range from mild to severe.
Symptoms of depression are outlined on the following pages. Symptoms of mania tend to include:

• Feeling very high, happy and full of energy.
• Increased levels of energy and activity. People experiencing mania tend to have many activities and work very fast.
• Reduced need for sleep. This can be extreme, with people going for days without feeling any need for sleep.
• Rapid speech and thought.
• Irritability and a tendency to get angry with those who do not support or understand their ideas.
• Lack of inhibitions and a tendency to do things they would not normally do (eg spend large amounts of money; have brief, rapidly formed sexual relationships).
• Grandiose plans and beliefs where the individual feels particularly special or powerful and able to solve complex problems easily.
• Lack of insight that these behaviours or beliefs are unusual.

These symptoms and the behaviours produced can be damaging to people's lives and relationships. People with bipolar illness often have to contend with large debt, broken relationships and damaged reputations as a result of out-of-character behaviour during a manic episode.

Bipolar disorder is likely to be caused by several factors, including biochemistry, genetic inheritance, stress and sometimes seasonal effects. Between episodes of low or high mood, people experience normal mood variation and are able to live full and productive lives. For some people, extreme mood swings occur regularly; for others, the highs or lows may be occasional with years of stable moods between.

Treatment for bipolar illness, which may include medication, psychotherapy and lifestyle changes, tends to be effective. Maintenance treatment between episodes may greatly reduce or even prevent further episodes.

Contacts

NIMH Bipolar Disorder
www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm

Mental Help Net - Bipolar Disorder
www.mentalhelp.net/poc/center_index.php?id=4

SANE Australia
www.sane.org
(03) 9682 5933

General mental illness contacts are listed in the contacts section.