Monday, April 22, 2013

Bipolar Spectrum Disorder - Everything You Need to Know


Bipolar disorder is also commonly known as depressive- manic illness. It is the major cause of abnormal mood swings and energy levels that can affect someone's daily life. Bipolar spectrum disorder is a disorder in another level and range of disorders. It can have a single episode, a mild episode or a lot of severe mood swings. The mood swings can be separated by a period of normal behavior. In some other cases the manic episode and the depression episodes can be very alternate and occur frequently. Rapid cycling is what is used to refer to these alternate mood swings. Bipolar disorder is mostly noticed in early adulthood.

The symptoms of Bipolar Spectrum Disorder include both manic and mania episodes and also depression and depressive episodes. This is a change in both the mood and behavior and it noticeable by the patient. The symptoms in mood changes are; a loss of interest with the activities that would make the person happy, periods that will last long of being happy and extremely high. The person will get easily irritated and will always be uneasy; they will also have a feeling of emptiness and a lot of worry with no apparent reason. Behavioral changes symptoms are; being very excited and the tendency to talk fast, a great change with the sleeping and eating patterns, will be very restless. The person will be very easy to distract and will lose concentration in any activity very fast. They will also have a great problem when it comes to decision making. They will complain of being exhausted when they have done a small amount of work.

Bipolar spectrum disorder has four types of disorders which are; Bipolar 1 disorder. It is a combination of both the manic and mania episodes. It can easily last for two weeks. It can also be an episode of depression or hypomania that might need immediate care in the hospital. It is the main manic-depressive illness. The second type is Bipolar 11 disorder. It is characterized by one episode that is hypo manic. It will occur frequently with a lot of intensity than a manic episode. It will be followed by one major depressive episode.

It is very difficult to diagnose bipolar II because the hypo manic episode will look like a high productivity period. The third type is Cyclothymic and Cyclothaymia disorder. This is milder compared to bipolar II. Mostly occurs for two years and not very severe but have some everyday interference with normal activities. The fourth one is Bipolar disorder not otherwise specified. It is also referred to as sub-threshold. It is noticed when a person is suffering from manic and depressive bipolar spectrum symptoms.

Bipolar spectrum disorder has no cure and it is an illness that will occur frequently. But the treatment to keep it in control will be offered once it is diagnosed. The patient will be on medication for the rest of their lives.

No comments:

Post a Comment