Bipolar Disorder Symptoms: What Causes Manic Depression and What Is the Proper Treatment?

Bipolar Disorder Symptoms: Manic Depression

What Causes It and What Is the Proper Treatment?

Bipolar disorder is easy to think of as the condition known as manic depression. It is a disorder in which mania, an abnormally elevated state, and depression, a depressed state, alternate.

As one of the 대표적인 disorders of mood disorders, bipolar disorder is called this because it moves back and forth between the two extremes of elevated mania and lowered depression.

If you have this condition, you may feel high, have increased energy, not feel tired even without sleep, and show faster speech and thoughts.

Bipolar Disorder Symptoms

1. Manic Episode A manic episode is one aspect of bipolar disorder, in which mood becomes elevated and excessive confidence is felt. During this period, speech is very fast, ideas keep coming, and attention becomes scattered.

Even with little sleep, there is no feeling of fatigue, energy is abundant, and excessive activity is enjoyed.

However, even in this process, moods change frequently, and you may feel as if you cannot trust yourself; you may suddenly burst into tears, and hostile behavior may appear.

2. Depressive Episode A depressive episode shows a slightly different pattern from ordinary depression. In a depressed state, one feels anxiety, restlessness, and lack of energy.

A sluggish or lethargic state continues, and oversleeping is common; this is called atypical depression.

Depression in bipolar disorder has a high risk of suicide, and special caution is needed if it appears early in the illness or if there is a history of previous suicide attempts, alcohol problems, or hospitalization.

Causes of Bipolar Disorder The cause of bipolar disorder has not yet been clearly identified, but according to research findings so far, it is said to occur through a combination of several biological and environmental factors.

It is common for there to be a family history, with biological factors accounting for about 70–80% and environmental factors such as stress accounting for about 20–30%.

It is generally thought to be the result of several complex factors interacting with one another.

Types of Bipolar Disorder

1. Bipolar I Disorder Bipolar I disorder presents with both manic episodes and depressive episodes. During this period, mood becomes elevated and confidence and self-esteem become excessively inflated.

There is a high likelihood of engaging in pleasurable activities or reckless gambling, and at this time, because the person does not recognize their illness, they do not visit a hospital on their own.

If the manic episode is severe, prompt inpatient treatment is needed.

2. Bipolar II Disorder Bipolar II disorder presents with hypomanic episodes and depressive episodes. The hypomanic episodes are relatively mild and tend to be shorter in duration.

During the hypomanic episode, creative thinking increases and productive activities are enjoyed, but the depressive episode shows a pattern similar to ordinary depression.

Most patients seek medical care when they are depressed, so it is highly likely to be mistaken for a depressive disorder at first.

Treatment of Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder is mostly treated with medication, and it is important to establish a comprehensive treatment plan that integrates psychotherapeutic approaches.

Because most patients with this condition visit the hospital while depressed, prescribing antidepressants must be done cautiously, and mood stabilizers and antipsychotic medications are usually used.

To treat bipolar disorder, it is important to maintain regular daily habits. If sleep time changes, it has a major effect on mood.

Therefore, healthy life rhythms should be maintained through regular sleep and appropriate exercise, and drinking should be avoided because alcohol can make mood unstable.