Introduction
Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depressive disorder, is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood changes. According to Bonnín et al. (2019), individuals diagnosed with this disorder experience severe changes between manic and depressive emotional states. The former occurs when an individual exhibits instances of severe excitement and restlessness while the latter manifests through the feeling of tiredness and sadness. However, the symptoms of bipolar vary between individuals – mania, hypomania and depression are the main symptoms of bipolar disorder. Similarly, those diagnosed with this disorder tend to experience at least one episode of mania or hypomania. It is important to note that most people get diagnosed with clinical depression and later develop symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Prevalence and Incidence
Bipolar disorder is currently regarded as one of the most popular mental health conditions around the globe. According to statistics, about 46 million people around the world have bipolar disorder (Masters et al., 2022). In the U.S, adults are the most affected age group – about 4.5 percent of adults suffer from this condition (Eseaton et al., 2022). It is also regarded as the leading cause of disability around the world. Similarly, the lifelong prevalence rate of the disorder is currently at 3 percent globally (Masters et al., 2022). According to a survey carried out by Teasdale et al. (2021) on 11 countries, the prevalence rate of bipolar type 1 in the U.S was at 1 percent – this was significantly higher than in most countries involved in the survey. The authors attributed this increase to better mental health education in the U.S, especially among young people.
Bipolar disorder is one of the psychiatric disorders that is inherited from other family members. As explicated in Rowland and Marwaha’s (2018) study, its genetic factors accounts for about 80 percent of the cause of the mental health condition. In the U.S, approximately 0.2 percent of perinatal women experience a hypomanic episode (Masters et al., 2022). Furthermore, African American population is the most adversely affected group – about 6.4 percent of the population suffers from bipolar spectrum disorder (Gara et al., 2019). Research also shows that the incidence of bipolar disorder is similar among both men and women. Similarly, the incidence rate across different cultural and ethnic background is the same (Gara et al., 2019). While this is the case, the severity rate of the condition tends to vary across regions and the world. For example, the rate of incidence in the U.S is “higher among African Americans compared to Americans of European descent” Gara et al., 2019, p. 130). In most cases, adolescents and those in the early adulthood stage are the most affected groups.
Types of Bipolar Disorder
Healthcare practitioners often use the DSM-5 criteria and different diagnostic assessment tools such as Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Rating Scale (MAS) and the Bipolar Inventory of Symptoms Scale (BISS) to identify a specific type of bipolar disorder. National Alliance on Mental Illness categorized bipolar disorder into four types. The first type is bipolar 1 disorder and is currently the most common one. The disorder is characterized by “one or more manic episodes, with or without depressive episodes occurring” (Nestsiarovich et al., 2017, p. 672). The individuals that experience mania often require hospitalization due to severe nature of the episodes. Secondly, in by bipolar 11 disorder, the affected person tends to experience constant mood changes between high and long within a given period of time. However, the individual is less likely to experience full-blown mania – they exhibit at least one hypomanic episode throughout their life.
The third type of bipolar disorder is cyclothymic which is characterized by rapid mood changes between depressive and hypomanic that last for more than two years. However, unlike the previous two types, those diagnosed with cyclothymic occasionally experience periods of normal moods that last for few weeks (Nestsiarovich et al., 2017). Lastly, unspecified bipolar disorder which occurs when presenting symptoms does not meet the diagnostic criteria of the other three types. However, the individual with this type of disorder still experience episodes of unique manic mood.
Treatment
Although Bipolar disorder has no cure, behavioral therapy and combination of different medications have been found to help people live normal and productive lives. According to Rhee et al. (2020), medications such as mood stabilizers and therapy reduces the prevalence various mood shifts caused by the condition. However, Rhee et al. (2020) cautioned that medication alone is not enough to address the recurrence of both manic and depressive episodes. The authors emphasized the need for education and creating awareness about the causes and ways of managing it. For instance, those affected by the disorder should join different support groups, make lifestyle changes and read widely about the disorder in order to understand how to manage the symptoms. In essence, medication, psychotherapy, education and support groups as the most effective treatment options for bipolar.
Education allows individuals adopt different methods of managing the condition. Support groups, on the other hand, ensures those living with the disorder learn from one another as well as share personal experiences. On medication, most healthcare providers recommend antidepressants such as Prozac and Amitriptyline as the most effective treatment options. Similarly, antipsychotic medications such as Ariplazole, Quetiapine, and Risperidone help a lot in treating acute mania.
Conclusion
Overall, bipolar disorder which is associated with varying episodes of mood swings remains to the most challenging mental health condition to treat and manage. However, a combination of medication such as antidepressants, psychotherapy, education and support groups helps one live a normal and happy life. Individual are encouraged to read widely as this allows them to better manage the condition and its related relapse situations.
References
Bonnín, C. D. M., Reinares, M., Martínez-Arán, A., Jiménez, E., Sánchez-Moreno, J., Solé, B., & Vieta, E. (2019). Improving functioning, quality of life, and well-being in patients with bipolar disorder. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 22(8), 467-477. Web.
Eseaton, P. O., Oladunjoye, A. F., Anugwom, G., Onyeaka, H., Edigin, E., & Osiezagha, K. (2022). Emergency department utilization by patients with bipolar disorder: A national population-based study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 313, 232-234. Web.
Gara, M. A., Minsky, S., Silverstein, S. M., Miskimen, T., & Strakowski, S. M. (2019). A naturalistic study of racial disparities in diagnoses at an outpatient behavioral health clinic. Psychiatric Services, 70(2), 130-134. Web.
Masters, G. A., Hugunin, J., Xu, L., Ulbricht, C. M., Simas, T. A. M., Ko, J. Y., & Byatt, N. (2022). Prevalence of bipolar disorder in perinatal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 83(5), 41785.
Nestsiarovich, A., Hurwitz, N. G., Nelson, S. J., Crisanti, A. S., Kerner, B., Kuntz, M. J., & Lambert, C. G. (2017). Systemic challenges in bipolar disorder management: A patient‐centered approach. Bipolar disorders, 19(8), 676-688. Web.
Rhee, T. G., Olfson, M., Nierenberg, A. A., & Wilkinson, S. T. (2020). 20-year trends in the pharmacologic treatment of bipolar disorder by psychiatrists in outpatient care settings. American Journal of Psychiatry, 177(8), 706-715. Web.
Rowland, T. A., & Marwaha, S. (2018). Epidemiology and risk factors for bipolar disorder. Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology, 8(9), 251-269. Web.
Teasdale, S. B., Müller-Stierlin, A. S., Ruusunen, A., Eaton, M., Marx, W., & Firth, J. (2021). Prevalence of food insecurity in people with major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia and related psychoses: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 1-18. Web.