Bipolar

2012

Bipolar Manic Depressive Disorder

Professor Kraus

2012

Bipolar Manic Depressive Disorder

Professor Kraus

Michelle Blanco

Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder. Also known as manic depressive disorder, it is a mental illness involving episodes of serious mania and depression. The person's mood usually swings from overly high and irritable to sad and depressed, and then back again, with periods of normal mood in between. Bipolar disorder typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood and continues throughout life. It is often not recognized as an illness and people who have it may suffer for years or even decades. Treatments are available that greatly help the suffering caused by bipolar disorder and can usually prevent its complications. These include marital breakups, job loss, alcohol and drug abuse, and suicide.

Facts about bipolar disorder:

* Manic-depressive illness has a devastating impact on many people.

* At least 2 million Americans suffer from manic-depressive illness. For those afflicted with the illness, it is extremely distressing and disruptive.

* Like other serious illnesses, bipolar disorder is also hard on spouses, family members, friends, and employers.

* Family members of people with bipolar disorder often have to cope with serious behavioral problems (such as wild spending sprees) and the lasting consequences of these behaviors.

* Bipolar disorder tends to run in families and is believed to be inherited in many cases. Despite vigorous research efforts, a specific genetic defect associated with the disease has not yet been detected.

* Bipolar illness has been diagnosed in children under age 12, although it is not common in this age bracket. It can be confused with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, so careful diagnosis is necessary.

* Most people with manic-depressive illness can be helped with treatment.

Signs and Symptoms

* Increased energy, activity,...