About Bipolar Affective Disorder
Treating
Bipolar Affective Disorder
What is Bipolar Affective Disorder?
Bipolar affective disorder is psychiatric disorder characterized by extreme mood swings. Despite research, there is no general consensus as to what causes bipolar affective disorder. Genetics, brain chemistry and life events are all said to contribute to onset of bipolar affective disorder.
Every one of us can experience the 'ups and downs' of everyday life, but for people suffering with bipolar affective disorder these ups and downs are more extreme and prolonged, affecting not only their mood, but their thoughts, behaviour and ability to function in life. These extreme mood swings are known as Mania, Hypomania and Depression. Though people with bipolar affective disorder will share similar symptoms, it affects everyone differently. Some people will experience more episodes of depression than mania, while others will experience more episodes of mania than depression. For some people, they may only experience one or two episodes in their entire lifetime, while other people will experience frequent episodes throughout their lifetime, sometimes four or more episodes every year, this is commonly known as rapid-cycling. The mood-swings of bipolar disorder can last from hours-months.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) distinguishes between two sub-types of bipolar affective disorder, Bipolar I and Bipolar II. Within these sub-types, a person may experience rapid cycling, a mixed episode and psychosis. When a person has obvious mood swings, but do not meet the full diagnostic criteria for bipolar affective disorder, they may be diagnosed with Cyclothymic disorder.
Who Does It Affect?
It is estimated that around one in every hundred people are diagnosed with having Bipolar Affective Disorder. It often begins in late adolescence and can often appear as depression during the teenage years, although it can start at any stage of a person's life. Both men and women are equally affected by bipolar affective disorder and it is prevalent amongst all ethnic groups and socioeconomic groups. Of those people diagnosed 10-15% have close relatives with a mood disorder. It is important to remember that bipolar affective disorder not only affects the lives of those who have the disorder but also can dramatically affect the lives of those people closest to them, family, friends and colleagues.
