PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF BIPOLAR DISORDER

Environmental Factors
Life stressors
Legend:

Pathophysiology Neurotransmitter Imbalances

Excess of serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine
Mechanism
Abnormal Neurocircuitry
Sign/Symptom Dysregulation of neuronal activity

Disorder BIPOLAR DISORDER

Decreased inhibitory control of emotional circuitry

Disruption of emotional homeostasis Depressed mood

Elevated, expansive,
irritable mood
Oscillation between mood states
Individual variability in disease course Increased withdrawal,
Increased goal directed guilt, anxiety,
behaviors and agitation hopelessness
MANIC EPISODE DEPRESSIVE
EPISODE

Increased euphoria, Increased suicidal

EUTHYMIC MOOD
grandiosity thoughts and behavior

BIPOLAR 1 DISORDER:
Increased euphoria,  1+ manic episodes +/- Decreased pleasure,
grandiosity  1+ major depressive episodes concentration
 Estimated 10 episodes of mania and
depression per lifetime if untreated