BipolarCentral.com provides information & resources for people with mental defects
Title
Bipolar Central – Bipolar Disorder Resource Website
Description
Definition of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder, or BP, was previously called manic-depression or manic depressive disorder. BP is characterized by extreme moods - highs and lows. Symptoms cycle from clinical or major depression, to mania and manic behavior. Bipolar Disorder is not a case of 'the blues'. It isn't the normal cycle of up and downs we all experience from too much stress, too little sleep, losing the lottery, or breaking up with a boyfriend. Bipolar Disorder can significantly affect a patient's ability to function, and can result in strained or broken relationships, poor job performance, and poor performance in school or group settings. Symptoms do not go away in a week or two. If left untreated, the disorder can even result in suicide. A 1992 Johns Hopkins University survey of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder reported a 19% incidence of threatened or attempted suicide. Other studies indicate that 25%-50% of bipolar patients will attempt suicide at least once during the course of their illness. It is estimated that 15% of the population of patients with bipolar disorder will commit suicide, even with treatment. The suicide rate in untreated bipolar disorder cases is even higher. It is difficult to pinpoint the incidence in untreated cases because many untreated cases are also undiagnosed and, thus, the triggering suicidal event is never determined.
Causes of Bipolar Disorder
Mental health disorders typically stem from more than one cause, and Bipolar Disorder (BP) is no exception to this rule. Research on Bipolar Disorder indicates links to hereditary or genetic factors and environmental factors. Those with a family history of depression, bipolar disorder or other mental disorders seem more likely to suffer from a mental disorder, and specifically from depression or bipolar disorder. Other research indicates a chemical imbalance in the brain of the bipolar patient. In some patients, symptoms appear after a stressful event in the patient's life, e.g. the death of a spouse, a divorce, or the loss of a job. Some people survive these events without consequences, but for others the event will trigger Bipolar symptoms.
Children with Bipolar Disorder
Most cases of Bipolar Disorder are diagnosed in the early years of adult life, but research indicates that some children, diagnosed with Depression, are actually suffering from Bipolar Disorder. Symptoms can begin in early childhood, though they may not occur until adolescence. Up to 3.4 million American children and adolescents, diagnosed with some form of depression, may actually suffer from early-onset bipolar disorder. Symptoms may be episodic, disappearing for a time and then reappearing with vigor. Children with Bipolar Disorder should not be called 'Bipolar Children' or a 'Bipolar Child'. Labels will make the child feel isolated and different. These children are at greater risk for anxiety or mood disorders, and Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Other conditions mimic bipolar disorder, and many doctors do not screen children for Bipolar Disorder, so children may go undiagnosed well into their adult years.
