Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mental disorder characterized by periods of elevated mood and periods of depression. The elevated mood is significant and is known as mania or hypomania depending on the severity or whether there is psychosis
Mania is the defining feature of bipolar disorder, and can occur with different levels of severity.
With milder levels of mania, known as hypomania: individuals appear
• Energetic
• Excitable
• Highly productive.
As mania worsens: individuals begin to exhibit
• Erratic and impulsive behavior
• Often making poor decisions due to unrealistic ideas about the future,
• Sleep very little.
At the most severe level: manic individuals can experience
• Very distorted beliefs about the world known as psychosis.
• A depressive episode commonly follows an episode of mania
• The biological mechanisms responsible for switching from a manic or hypomanic episode to a depressive episode or vice versa remain poorly understood
An initial assessment may include:
- A physical exam by a physician.
Although there are no biological tests that are diagnostic of bipolar disorder Some tests may be carried out to exclude medical illnesses with clinical presentations similar to that of bipolar disorder such as
- Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
- Metabolic disturbance
- A chronic disease
- An infection such as HIV or syphilis.
- An EEG may be used to exclude a seizure disorder such as epilepsy
- A CT scan of the head may be used to exclude brain lesions.Investigations are not generally repeated for a relapse unless there is a specific medical indication.
Include:
• Psychosocial
• Medication Management
Consult at Aadil Hospital for medical treatment.
