Nancy was doing very well until about two years ago when Phil, her boyfriend of 9 years, broke-up with her. It was a difficult moment for her especially after she learned that Phil eventually married her cousin. Since then, Nancy had deteriorated. One evening, she was involved in a motor vehicular accident because she was driving fast and recklessly in a quiet suburban neighborhood.
During interrogation, the cops noted that Nancy was talking rapidly and nobody could interrupt her. Also, she was making jokes and laughing so loud. She further indicated to them that she was on her way to meet the President and his top officials about her invention that could cure the oil crunch. She eventually ended up in the emergency room where she was diagnosed and treated for bipolar disorder after intensive evaluation.
Bipolar disorder or manic-depression is manifested by highs and lows. When a patient like Nancy is on the manic side, there is a persistent feeling of euphoria or irritability associated with lack of need for sleep, excessive energy, agitation, fast and loud speech, increase in goal-directed activities such as spending sprees and establishing businesses with no appropriate plan, and hypersexuality.
Patients with this disorder develop poor judgment and impulsivity. They become irritable and can lash out easily even if not provoked. Some patients have delusions of grandeur. When this happens, patients think that they have special powers, talents, and influence.
When not manic, patients either feel normal or depressed. Depression in bipolar disorder has the same manifestation as major depression that consists of feelings of sadness associated with neurovegetative signs and symptoms such as inability to sleep, eat, and concentrate. Energy level is also impaired. In addition, patients experience a feeling of hopelessness, worthlessness, and helplessness. Suicidal ideation may ensue.
For individuals who develop mania, does it always mean that they suffer from bipolar disorder?
Not necessarily. Mania can be caused by various medical and neurologic conditions. For instance, multiple sclerosis and stroke can present with manic symptoms. Moreover, medications and street drugs may precipitate mania. Steroids, cocaine, and amphetamine are some examples. Even some antidepressants can induce mania.
So when a person shows mania, the physician usually does intensive evaluation to rule out medical, neurologic, and medication-induced conditions before diagnosing bipolar disorder. This process is important because the treatment varies depending upon the cause. Once other conditions are ruled out, then bipolar disorder can be safely diagnosed and treated.
Copyright © 2004. Dr. Michael G. Rayel ? author (First Aid to Mental Illness?Finalist, Reader's Preference Choice Award 2002) psychiatrist, and inventor of Oikos Game: An EQ Game. For info, visit http://www.oikosgame.com and http://www.soardime.com
On June 15th, 2004, FDA's Medical Devices Panel recommended that... Read More
It has just been announced, after a study by a... Read More
Approximately 19 million American adult workers allow depression to limit... Read More
Sometimes it's hard to see the forest from the trees.... Read More
The Law of BlueJust sort of feeling blue, kinda out... Read More
Since Dr Malcolm Peet, a consultant psychiatrist at Sheffield swallow... Read More
Nancy was doing very well until about two years ago... Read More
Depression is the most prevalent of all the emotional disorders.... Read More
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a... Read More
1.Remember that it is an illness:Clinical depression often requires medical... Read More
Countless number of patients and their family members have asked... Read More
The bright yellow flower of the St Johns Wort (hypericum... Read More
Not long ago, I attended a mastermind group. During the... Read More
There's a dangerous illness afflicting women everywhere across the nation.... Read More
With the next few weeks, the FDA is expected to... Read More
1. Get out now and walk fifteen minutes. It will... Read More
Maria has been feeling depressed for at least two and... Read More
What is depression?Depression is a serious medical illness; it's not... Read More
A major symposium about vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment... Read More
Schizophrenia suffers around the world have benefitted greatly with the... Read More
Psychological well-being is something that we all have a right... Read More
Being lonely is a normal share of our everyday lives.... Read More
We all have blue days:We're missing someone we've lost, the... Read More
There are three basic ways to treat depression: psychotherapy, self-help,... Read More
According to the World Health Organization, 4 of the 10... Read More
It seems unreal, another major storm hitting Florida after experiencing... Read More
The September 1, 2005 issue of Biological Psychiatry confirmed the... Read More
We've all been there? One minute your listening intently as... Read More
Cardiologists, other doctors and long term care staff might be... Read More
While it may be easy to recite the various brand... Read More
There are Many Resources for Online Suicide HelpFirst of all,... Read More
Within the next few weeks, the FDA is expected to... Read More
When we have depression, one of the things we drop... Read More
Life wasn't easy for cave men. They had to hunt... Read More
On September 30th 1998 I was crossing the street in... Read More
Typical signs of depression actually show a change in the... Read More
What can you say to a parent who loses a... Read More
A zoo attendant entered a lion cage carrying only a... Read More
INTRODUCTION Everybody has a story. My... Read More
THE RISKAccumulation of acids in your body, due to insufficient... Read More
On June 15th, 2004, FDA's Medical Devices Panel recommended that... Read More
According to the June 7th issue of the Wall Street... Read More
There is one very simple reason for all emotional depression.In... Read More
The cover of the March 7, 2005 issue of Business... Read More
Depression, in psychiatry, is a symptom of mood disorder characterized... Read More
Long term care facilities and residents' doctors should consider combining... Read More
Looking for a way to reduce the amount of worrying... Read More
We all suffer with bad moods from time to time.... Read More
Do you have days where nothing can make you happy?... Read More
There is an illness all around me in modern society... Read More
Why are these illnesses on the rise? And why do... Read More
World Health Organisation states one out of four worldwide suffer... Read More
A major symposium about vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment... Read More
My definition of procrastination is that a person delays and... Read More
With the current interest in mental health topics, a mental... Read More
When artiste Leslie Cheung committed suicide, he left behind a... Read More
Chronic Fatigue and Chronic Depression are absolutely systemic in our... Read More
The 'experts' have tried to evaluate me as a sufferer... Read More
"Thanks for Noticin' Me" says Eeyore. He walks slowly. He... Read More
When suffering from clinical depression, people have different ways of... Read More
If you've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder (also known as... Read More
Being lonely is a normal part of our everyday lives.... Read More
In 1965, a chemist working to develop an ulcer drug... Read More
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a... Read More
On June 2 at 8:00 pm ET, Reuters news service... Read More
We all have blue days:We're missing someone we've lost, the... Read More
Depression |