Understanding Bipolar Disorder: Types, Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition experienced by 1 in 50 Australians annually.
People with bipolar disorder experience extreme mood changes, impacting their behaviours and relations with others. Their severe mood swings can result in manic symptoms or manic episodes, or depressive symptoms or major depressive episodes. These episodes generally last weeks before changing.
With treatment, bipolar disorder can be managed and an individual’s quality of life can vastly improve.
In this article, we cover:
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a type of mood disorder. It is mainly categorised by extreme mood swings, ranging from manic to depressive.
These swings are known as ‘episodes’, and they are prolonged in nature.
A person with diagnosed bipolar disorder might experience major depression for weeks on end, followed by weeks of feeling abnormally high.
While it is normal for people to experience mood swings, individuals with diagnosed bipolar disorder experience these swings in a more extreme way, often struggling with emotional regulation and fluctuation.
Bipolar disorder impacts the everyday functioning of individuals, affecting their quality of life including with relationships, school, and work.
The extreme mood changes often result in exhaustion – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Episodes drain energy, leaving the person to feel depleted.
What Are The Types Of Bipolar Disorder?
There are various types of bipolar disorder, including:
Other lesser-known types include:
Mental health professionals can assist in the specific diagnosis, based on symptoms and behaviours present, in order to effectively instigate a treatment plan.
What Are Bipolar Disorder Episodes?
People experiencing bipolar disorder experience both depressive and manic episodes. Episodes can last for more than a week, changing sporadically without an identified trigger.
Depressive Episodes
A depressive episode causes the person to feel extreme sadness, hopelessness, lack of enthusiasm and interest, and little to no pleasure in things. Other common symptoms and behaviours include:
Manic Episodes
Manic, or hypomanic, episodes cause the person to have an extremely high mood, excessive energy and activity, rapid speech, inability to sleep, and racing thoughts.
Other common symptoms and behaviours include:
What Are The Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder?
Early warning signs of bipolar disorder are symptoms of hypomania. Hypomania is when an individual experiences elevated mood, increased energy, and impulsive behaviour. This is often the first symptom noticeable for those with bipolar disorder.
Symptoms of hypomania includes:
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People with bipolar I disorder can also experience psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations.
If a person experiences hypomania without psychosis, they are more likely to be diagnosed with bipolar II disorder.
What Causes Bipolar Disorder?
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, however it has been linked to environmental, genetic and other factors.
Environmental Factors
Bipolar disorder has been linked to environmental factors such as childhood upbringing and stressful life events.
Early adulthood plays a crucial role in emotional development as it generally solidifies values present during childhood. Childhood trauma is a leading cause for many mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder.
Genetics
Genetic factors significantly contribute to the likelihood of developing bipolar disorder. Children of parents with bipolar disorder have a higher chance of also having the disorder compared to children of parents without it.
If both parents have bipolar disorder, there is a 40% chance their child will also develop this disorder.
Substance Abuse
Manic and hypomanic episodes can be triggered by substances, particularly in the context of substance abuse. Substances that can trigger episodes include excessive amounts of caffeine, prednisone, and illicit substances including cocaine, ecstasy, and amphetamines.
How is Bipolar Disorder Diagnosed?
Bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed as depression because the depressive phase of the disorder is generally more evident and frequent than the manic or hypomanic phase.
A mental health professional can provide medical advice to assist in diagnosis, taking into consideration the individual’s mental health history, family history, and experiences to see if it matches any of the diagnostic criteria for the bipolar disorder categories.
They can also rule out other mental health conditions or related disorders, like depression, anxiety, or other types of disorder.
What Treatment Is Available For Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness can be effectively managed. By working with medical professionals to help manage bipolar disorder and its related symptoms, people with the condition will be able to stabilise their mood swings and lead productive and fulfilling lives.
Treatment options include a combination of:
The goals of treatment include:
Barriers to treatment
One of the major barriers in the treatment of bipolar disorder is medication and treatment non-compliance. This occurs when an individual with the disorder stops taking their medication and seeking continued counseling.
Reasons for Non-Compliance
Impact on Caregivers and Significant Others
If you are a caregiver or significant other of a person diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it is important to recognise the risks of not seeking treatment. Non-compliance can have long-term impacts on the individual's close relationships, work, and social functioning. Encouraging adherence to treatment plans, regular follow-ups and offering support can help manage these risks and improve outcomes.
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