Origins of Bipolarism
Bipolarism, or bipolar disorder, most often begins in childhood with "hypomania," a syndrome consisting of exaggerated and rapid mood swings, irritability and impulsive behavior. Untreated hypomania often progresses into a full-fledged case of bipolarism.
There are degrees of bipolarism, with Bipolar I causing the patient to experience at least one episode of mania, with or without the accompanying episode of depression. Bipolar II is diagnosed if the patient has had at least one manic episode, which has been accompanied by a depressive episode. One syndrome of bipolarism is called "Cyclothymic Disorder," which is rapid cycling of hypomania and depression. The patient can be simultaneously manic and depressed, but this requires that he has experienced at least four depressive episodes which have impaired his functioning in at least one sphere of his life, such as work or school. If the patient experiences "rapid cycling," he will have experienced at least four "major" manic episodes with major depressed episodes in between.
Brains and Families
Doctors and researchers have been studying the brains of bipolar patients and comparing them with the brains of normal subjects. By conducting brain scans, these researchers have found differences between the functioning of a bipolar patient's brain and a normal study subject's brain. Bipolar disorder often runs in families, with one or both parents having the disease. If one parent suffers from bipolarism, the chance of a child developing bipolarism stands at 15 to 30 percent; if both parents suffer from bipolarism, the chance increases to 50 to 75 percent. If a sibling is diagnosed with bipolarism, the chance is 15 to 25 percent that someone else in the family will develop bipolarism.
Genetics and Bipolarism
Although there is medical evidence that the neurotransmitters in the brain of a bipolar patient function differently from those of a person who does not suffer from bipolarism, there are potentially other causes. Researchers have been studying the genetic code of patients with bipolarism, based on the familial predisposition. This is a new field in research; however, the researchers who have been studying this mental illness think that it may be caused by interaction between several genes, rather than being isolated to only one gene.
How Bipolarism Affects Patients, Families and Society
Bipolarism can be triggered in the person who is predisposed by an emotional trauma. A family member's bipolar symptoms and illness take over the life of an entire family: since the patient and her family members never know when an episode of mania or depression is going to strike, the family feels like giving up in the face of unpredictability. Bipolar patients in a manic phase can spend money recklessly, engage in promiscuous sexual behavior, go without sleep for days at a time, use illicit drugs and find themselves being fired from their jobs. When the patient is in a depressive phase, he withdraws from the world, experiences sleep disturbances, loss of interest, decreased energy and inability to concentrate; he may also experience suicidal ideation--suicidal thoughts-- or may attempt to commit suicide.
Ways to Control Bipolarism
Bipolarism cannot be cured -- it can only be controlled by taking "mood stabilizing" medications. The bipolar patient will have to take his medications every day of his life or risk potentially disabling symptoms and mood cycles which can disrupt his life. Lithium is the most commonly prescribed medication for bipolarism. Psychiatrists have found this medication to be very effective in reducing the intensity of the manic and depressive phases of this mental disorder. Researchers have also found anticonvulsant medications to be effective in controlling bipolarism; some antipsychotic drugs have been found to help the more severely manic bipolar patient.
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