How Do Bipolar Disorders Manifest?
By Zeina Moukarzel
MD-Anesthesiologist, Critical Care Physician, General Physician, Addiction Medicine
Reading Time:
2 minutes
Bipolar disorder usually manifests for the first time, before the age of 25
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder. Two types are differentiated:
- Type 1 or manic Depression: characterized by at least one full depressive episode and at least one manic* episode. It initially manifests for the first time before the age of 25 by a depression. It is important to differentiate between an isolated depression (unipolar disorder) and a depression within bipolar disorder context, as the treatment is different
- Type 2: characterized by at least one full depressive episode and at least one hypo-mania (less severe than mania) episode
Each cycle -depression or mania/hypo-mania- may last days to months and years (rapid/frequent or slow cycling)
Some important points to know:
- Psychosis (hallucinations** and delusions***) can be a manifestation of either cycles, depression or mania
- Suicide rate is higher with people with bipolar disorder
- People with bipolar are at higher risk for risky behaviors like self-harm and sexual behaviors, substance use and abuse, including of alcohol and other drugs. Substances have deleterious effects on the symptoms (more important) and the course of the disease
- Mania is different from feeling happy in that mania alters thinking and causes significant daily problems
Bipolar disorders are treated with medications and psychotherapy. Immediate referral to a mental health specialist is mandatory.
*Mixed mood states of euphoria, violence and irritability
**”A disturbance of how your brain perceives the world. A person with hallucinations experiences senses that aren’t real (i.e. sound, sight, smell, taste, or touch). For example, a person with psychosis is hallucinating if they hear voices that aren’t occurring in reality”
***”A disturbance of cognition where a person has fixed false beliefs that something has occurred or will occur that is not real. A common delusion is the belief that someone is trying to harm them, even though nobody is. Delusions are often associated with psychosis”
