Bipolar
1 Disorder, also called Bioplar I or
manic-depressive disorder, is a mental illness. Those with Bipolar 1
Disorder will
have had at least one manic episode in which there is an abnormally
high mood
with abnormal behavior.
Bipolar 1 Disorder is the more severe form of the disease, as compared
with bipolar 2
disorder. In most cases, those with Bipolar 1 also suffer
from depressive episodes.
However, Bipolar 1
patients can often live normal lives in between episodes of mania and
depression.
Onset of
Bipolar 1 Disorder
The
first signs of Bipolar 1 usually appear in a person’s teens
or in the early 20’s. Almost everyone who suffers from
Bipolar 1 disorder
develops symptoms before reaching the age of 50. Those who have family
members
with Bipolar 1 are more likely to develop the disorder themselves.
Bipolar
1 Symptoms
Symptoms
of Bipolar 1 disorder include abnormal behavior
during manic episodes, such as taking on more projects than any one
person
could do, flying from one thought to the next, extremely high energy
levels,
less need for sleep, excessive ego, overspending and hyper-sexuality.
When
manic episodes are severe, patients may lose touch with reality, become
delusional or have hallucinations.
In
many cases, people with Bipolar 1 disorder have long
periods between episodes where there are no symptoms. Cycles of mania
and
depression can occur on an hourly, daily or monthly basis. They may
even occur
on less frequent cycles, like four times per year.
The
depressive episodes seen in Bipolar 1 disorder appear no
different that “normal” clinical depression,
causing Bipolar 1 disorder to be
often misdiagnosed as simple depression. Those with Bipolar 1 disorder
have a
higher incidence of suicidal thoughts and are twenty times more likely
to
commit suicide than the general population. They often have feelings of
guilt
and shame. Like manic episodes, the depressive episodes of Bipolar 1
disorder
can last for weeks or years.
Bipolar
1 Treatments
Manic episodes in Bipolar
1 are treated differently than
depressive episodes. Mood stabilizers and antipsychotic medications
like
Zyprexa are used to balance the mind and bring normal thought patterns
and
behaviors for severe manic episodes. They also prevent future episodes.
Antiseizure medications can also be effective in leveling moods and
preventing
episodes in those with Bipolar 1. Lithium is another commonly used
medication for
Bipolar 1.
Those with Bipolar 1
disorder will also need medications to
control depression. Common antidepressants can set off a manic episode,
making
depressive episodes difficult to treat. This is why lithium, Depakote
or
antipsychotic medicines are the first choice. If these medications
fail, only
then will an antidepressant be started. Psychotherapy is another
important
treatment for those with Bipolar 1 disorder.
Because
episodes of mania
and depression can be triggered by
stressful life events, psychotherapy helps patients to cope with
difficulties
in life, reducing the chance of an episode. In conjunction with
medications,
this treatment can usually allow patients to live a normal life.
Do you have Bipolar 2? Click here
to read about symptoms and Treatment for Bipolar 2.
All
information on BolarTests.Info is
intended for informational purposes. The information is not
intended nor
suited to be a substitute for
professional medical
treatment or
for professional medical advice relative to a specific medical question
or
condition.
