African American Mental Health Guide
Product was added to your cart

Cart

Bipolar Disorder

Understanding Bipolar Disorders

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.
Bipolar Disorders are distinguished from Depressive Disorders by mood swings and the presence of a manic episode.  “Mood swings are characterized by fluctuation from periods of extremely “up,” elated, and energized behavior (known as manic episodes or “mania”) to very sad, “down,” or hopeless periods (known as depressive episodes).  Less severe manic periods are known as hypomanic episodes.
Bipolar disorder tends to run in families. Children with a parent or sibling who has bipolar disorder are much more likely to develop the illness, compared with children who do not have a family history of the disorder. However, it is important to note that most people with a family history of bipolar disorder will not develop the illness.
There are four basic types of Bipolar Disorder.  All of them involve clear changes in mood, energy, and activity levels.
Primary Types of Bipolar Disorders
  • Bipolar I Disorder— defined by manic episodes that last at least 7 days, or by manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs immediate hospital care. Usually, depressive episodes occur as well, typically lasting at least 2 weeks. Episodes of depression with mixed features (having depression and manic symptoms at the same time) are also possible.
  • Bipolar II Disorder— defined by a pattern of depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes, but not the full-blown manic episodes described above.
  • Cyclothymic Disorder (also called cyclothymia)— defined by numerous periods of hypomanic symptoms as well numerous periods of depressive symptoms lasting for at least 2 years (1 year in children and adolescents). However, the symptoms do not meet the diagnostic requirements for a hypomanic episode and a depressive episode.
  • Other Specified and Unspecified Bipolar and Related Disorders— defined by bipolar disorder symptoms that do not match the three categories listed above.

Personal Story:  Actor Jenifer Lewis

Jenifer Lewis Shares Her Personal Journey with Bipolar Disorder on the Oprah Winfrey Show

Symptoms of the Manic Phase

  • Feel very “up,” “high,” or elated
  • Have a lot of energy
  • Have increased activity levels
  • Feel “jumpy” or “wired”
  • Have trouble sleeping
  • Become more active than usual
  • Talk really fast about a lot of different things
  • Be agitated, irritable, or “touchy”
  • Feel like their thoughts are going very fast
  • Think they can do a lot of things at once
  • Do risky things, like spend a lot of money

Symptoms of the Depressive Phase

  • Feel very sad, down, empty, or hopeless
  • Have very little energy
  • Have decreased activity levels
  • Have trouble sleeping, they may sleep too little or too much
  • Feel like they can’t enjoy anything
  • Feel worried and empty
  • Have trouble concentrating
  • Forget things a lot
  • Eat too much or too little
  • Feel tired or “slowed down”
  • Think about death or suicide

Diagnosis

Proper diagnosis and treatment help people with bipolar disorder lead healthy and productive lives. Talking with a doctor or other licensed mental health professional is the first step for anyone who thinks he or she may have bipolar disorder. The doctor can complete a physical exam to rule out other conditions. If the problems are not caused by other illnesses, the doctor may conduct a mental health evaluation or provide a referral to a trained mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, who is experienced in diagnosing and treating bipolar disorder.

Treatment

Medication
Medications generally used to treat bipolar disorder include:
  • Mood stabilizers
  • Atypical antipsychotics
  • Antidepressants
Psychotherapy
When done in combination with medication, psycho-therapy (can be an effective treatment for bipolar disorder. It can provide support, education, and guidance to people with bipolar disorder and their families. Some psycho-therapy treatments used to treat bipolar disorder include:
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Family-focused therapy
  • Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy
  • Psychoeducation

Bipolar Brief Assessment

The brief Bipolar Assessment is not intended to provide you with a diagnosis. It can be used to provide you with further insight into whether you should seek counseling. You should not use the assessment alone to make a determination. It is just one tool to add to all the factors you can consider in deciding to seek treatment.

Assessment Source: Mental Health America (MHA)

Menu