Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder

About 2% of the population develops a bipolar disorder during their lifetime. Bipolar disorder is characterized by large fluctuations in mood, where one switches between being extremely excited (manic) and depressed. Most people with bipolar disorder experience a preponderance of periods of depression.

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder, also called manic depressive disorder, is characterized by large fluctuations in mood. The terms mania, hypomania and depression are used to describe a bipolar disorder.

Mania: Extremely increased mood rent
Hypomania: Very mild, and often short-lived, elation
Depression: Strongly lowered mood, often long-lasting

In a bipolar disorder, the mood fluctuates between manic and depressive episodes. How often one swings between the various phases is very individual.

Different types of bipolar disorder

Bipolar type 1: Characterized by severe phases of mania and depression. You often have longer episodes of depression. Some people experience episodes of psychosis/delusions.
Bipolar type 2: Characterized by severe depression and brief hypomania, but never manic episodes.

Causes of bipolar disorder

Heredity can make some people more prone to developing bipolar disorder than others. High (>55 years) or low (<20 years) age of the father can also predispose to the development of the disease. External factors that are known to be able to trigger bipolar disorder are:

Reduced sleep
Irregular lifestyle (little routines and a lot of uncertainty)
Use of drugs
External stress
Personal problems (can often trigger depression)

Symptoms of mania and depression

The symptoms of bipolar disorder are different depending on whether you have mania or depression. In hypomania, most people function well.

Mania

Good mood and very high self-esteem
High level of activity, many plans
Talking fast
Very restless, reduced need for sleep
Thought flight (thoughts race through the head)
Increased sex drive
Feeling of being able, knowing and managing everything
Uncritical/irresponsible behaviour (danger to self and others)

Depression

Generally lowered mood rent
Lack of initiative and interest
Increased need for sleep
Loss of ability to concentrate
Poor self-image
Anxiety
Feeling of ineptitude
Suicidal thoughts

Good advice for bipolar disorder

Familiarize yourself with the disease and the medicines you are using

Learn to pick up on the signs that another episode of mania/depression is on its way

Map the factors that trigger fluctuations and avoid them

Strive for a good circadian rhythm with enough sleep

Regularity is important

Treatment of bipolar disorder

The goal of treating bipolar disorder is to reduce fluctuations in mood and stabilize it as close to "normal" as possible. The three most commonly used drug groups for bipolar disorder are:

Lithium

Lithium has been used for bipolar disorder for nearly 70 years. Lithium is an element with a mood stabilizing effect. Dosage of lithium must be carefully adapted to each individual patient because the difference between too high and too low a dose is very small.

Antiepileptic drugs

These medicines were developed against epilepsy, but have shown good effect in symptoms of bipolar disorder. They have a mood-stabilizing effect through the influence of signal transmission in the brain. The medicines in this group are marked with a warning triangle and caution must be exercised when driving and using alcohol, especially at the start of treatment before you know how you will react.

Antipsychotics

It has been shown that some medicines in this group have a good effect against bipolar disorder. This group of drugs changes the amount of signaling substances between nerve cells in the brain, which is thought to produce the mood stabilizing effect.

Non-drug treatment: what can you do yourself?

Make sure that both you and your loved ones have familiarized yourself thoroughly with the disease and the treatment.
Talk therapy can have a good effect in bipolar disorder. Talk to your GP if this is something you want to try.
Regular physical activity.
Fixed circadian rhythm.
Enough sleep.
Regular meals.
Try to have a good collaboration with your GP.