From the trance of passion and madness to severe depression and from recklessness and impulsiveness to apathy, these are the extremes attributed to manic depression or bipolar disorder, which was previously called manic depressive psychosis (manic depressive psychosis), a mental illness characterized by instability of mood and the disease can be serious It is a serious hindrance in daily life
Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive illness when extreme manic behavior is one end of the disorder and severe depression is the other.
The extreme mood changes in manic-depressive illness may last for weeks or even a few whole months, causing an imbalance in the control of normal life matters in people who suffer from it, and it may also affect the family and close circle of friends.
A lot of research that is being conducted to research the topic recently indicates that manic-depressive disorder carries with it a lot of symptoms, which is a reason that many people with this disorder are not diagnosed with it, and the condition of manic-depressive disorder worsens in general if it is not treated. tackle it. It is known that the percentage of those who commit suicide as a result of bipolar disorder is high, but with proper and effective treatment, it becomes possible to control life matters in a natural, enjoyable and fruitful manner, despite the presence of bipolar disorder.
Types of manic depression
Manic-depressive illness can be divided into two main types
Manic-depressive type I: If the patient suffered in the past for at least one period of mania, whether or not it included a previous period of depression.
Depressive mania type II: If the patient has suffered in the past for at least one period of depression and for at least one period of hypomania, and the hypomanic episode is similar in its symptoms to a normal manic episode, but its symptoms are more moderate and last for a few days only and are not permanent. High risk.
When having a manic-depressive episode, the patient may feel elation, a certain anxiety, and changes in his daily performance, but he remains, in general, able to continue his life normally without the need to lie in the hospital, and in manic depression of the second type, the periods of depression are significantly longer than in hypomania. .
Cyclidrosis is a mild type of bipolar disorder and includes mood swings and changes with great frequency and speed, but the moments of peak and moments of trough are not as serious as in bipolar disorder at its peak.
Symptoms of manic depression
Symptoms of manic depression are generally characterized by a change in behavioral patterns when feeling the peak or the bottom, that is, depression, and the severity of the initial signs and symptoms may range from very mild to very severe and very serious, and there may also be periods of life during which no effect of this disorder appears. The following are the most prominent symptoms, depending on the type of disease:
1. The peak phase of bipolar disorder
Signs and symptoms that may appear in the apex phase of bipolar disorder can include
The feeling of overwhelming joy, euphoria.
Increased optimism.
High self-confidence.
A defect in the arbitration of the mind.
Fast talk.
Frequency of thoughts.
Aggressive behaviour.
Storm agitation.
Increased physical activity.
Dangerous behaviour.
Excessive spending of money.
Strong desire to work and achieve goals.
intense sexual desire
Decreased need for sleep.
A tendency to get distracted easily.
Inability to concentrate.
Consumption of addictive substances.
2. The depressive phase in bipolar disorder
Signs and symptoms that may appear in the depressive phase of bipolar disorder can include
Sorrow.
Despair and lack of hope.
Suicidal thoughts or suicidal behavior.
feeling guilty.
Sleep disorders.
anorexia
exhaustion.
Lack of interest in daily activities.
Concentration problems.
Anxiety and nervousness.
Chronic pain without an apparent cause.
Some people with manic-depressive illness remain at risk of recurrent and recurrent bipolar disorder, and this definition applies to at least four mood swings within a twelve-month period.
These mood swings happen quickly, sometimes with a difference of a few hours, and when it comes to talking about a mixed situation of bipolar disorder, the symptoms of both mania and depression appear at the same time in parallel.
Particularly severe manic-depressive episodes may lead to a comprehensive psychological disorder or even to an absolute detachment from reality. Symptoms of extreme manic depression may include hearing voices or seeing things that are not there and having a strong and real belief in things that are not true.
Causes and risk factors for bipolar disorder
No real information is available so far about the real cause of the emergence of bipolar disorder, but it seems that there is a group of genetic biochemical processes and environmental factors that affect the emergence of bipolar disorder, including:
1. Biochemical processes
Research conducted using advanced imaging technologies shows that some people with bipolar disorder experience significant physiological changes in their brains.
2. Genetic factors
Some research suggests that bipolar disorder is more common in people who have close relatives who also have bipolar disorder.
3. Environmental factors
It is widely believed that the environment plays a central role in the onset of bipolar disorder, but research on identical twins shows that one twin may develop bipolar disorder while the other identical twin may not.
This means that genetic factors alone are not sufficient to stimulate the emergence of the disease, and it is estimated that about 1% of the population usually suffers from bipolar disorder, and in any case a number of researchers believe that depressive mania occurs successively and that there is an additional number of people who develop forms of bipolar disorder. The number of all of them together raises the proportion of people with the disorder to 6% of the total population.
In addition, it is possible that some people with the disorder are undiagnosed, because they do not go to receive drug treatment, as a result of the misdiagnosis that they have depression, as their symptoms do not fit the approved diagnostic criteria.
Manic depression of the first type affects an identical number of women and men alike, except while it is noted that the second type, that is, the accelerated type of disorder, is more prevalent among women, and this disorder appears of both types in the ages between 15-30 years in most cases.
Other factors
Other factors include
Blood relative of a person with bipolar disorder.
Periods of extreme stress.
Consumption of addictive substances.
Severe changes in lifestyle, such as the death of a loved one.
Complications of bipolar disorder
Manic-depressive disorder, if not treated appropriately and effectively, may lead to serious emotional and psychological problems that may be accompanied by economic and even legal problems that affect various areas of the patient''s daily life.
Complications that may result from manic depressive disorder can include
suicide.
Excessive consumption of alcohol and addictive substances.
judicial problems.
Economic problems.
Problems in marital life.
isolation.
Difficulty performing tasks at work, at school or at home.
Diagnosis of bipolar disorder
When the attending physician suspects that the person in front of him suffers from manic-depressive disorder, he is likely to recommend a number of medical examinations and psychological diagnoses, all of which contribute to denying a number of other problems that help in establishing a specific diagnosis and determining whether there are other complications. related to this disorder.
The series of examinations and diagnoses includes the following
Laboratory tests.
Psychiatric diagnosis.
Diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder
In order to confirm the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, there must be a conformity with the criteria published in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This manual is published by the American Psychiatric Association and is approved by mental health professionals with the aim of diagnosing diseases and mental disorders, as well as by various insurance companies in order to estimate the value of compensation. financial about addressing the turmoil.
The criteria for diagnosing bipolar disorder are based on diagnosing the specific type of bipolar disorder and examining the history and type of episodes such as: mania, hypomania or depression.
The person with this disorder must talk with the attending physician about everything related to the specific type that he suffers from, in order to increase his personal information and knowledge of his health status and to be aware of the ways and means of treatment.
Manic depression treatment
Manic depression represents a long-term medical condition that requires taking different medications on a daily basis in order to treat manic depression, throughout life, including the periods when the patient''s feeling improves. The treatment of bipolar disorder is often accompanied by permanent and continuous counseling from a psychiatrist, who has the appropriate qualifications to treat this disorder.
However, other people may be involved in the treatment process, including psychotherapists, social workers, and mental health nurses. The reason for this is that bipolar disorder may affect many areas of the patient''s normal daily life.
Appropriate and effective treatment is a vital and decisive element to reduce the frequency of manic and depressive episodes and reduce their severity and severity, in addition to helping the patient to practice his daily life in a balanced and more enjoyable manner.
Preventive treatment is also a very important element, especially since it also continues during the period of remission and fading of the disease, and for this reason, people with this disorder who do not adhere to permanent and continuous preventive treatment put themselves at risk of recurring symptoms of the disease at greater and faster rates, in addition to making themselves more vulnerable For moderate bouts to turn into severe bouts of mania or depression, with all their intensity and severity.
If the patient also suffers from any problems related to alcohol or substance abuse, then he should receive treatment for these problems as well, as they have severe negative effects on the symptoms of bipolar disorder.
The main and central treatments approved for manic-depressive disorder include
1. Pharmacotherapy
Pharmacological treatment is an important central component in the treatment of bipolar disorder, and given that drug treatment for this disorder usually causes very severe and severe side effects and effects, although they are rare, it is possible for a patient to stop taking the medications that were prescribed to him, and in this case he should go To his treating psychiatrist in the Department of Mental Health in order to change the treatment to give him the most effective and appropriate treatment for him.
The most prominent drug treatments include the following
Mood stabilizers.
Anticonvulsants.
Antidepressants.
Anti-anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines that may help improve sleep quality, and in addition to that, quetiapine, which the US Food and Drug Administration has confirmed to be effective in treating manic episodes and depressive episodes that characterize bipolar disorder.
The most prominent drugs used include the following
Olanzapine.
RISPERDAL.
2. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy
