Bipolar

Disorder
By Thitirat Pongprajuc
What is Bipolar Disorder?

• Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder that cause extreme

mood swings between depression and mania.

Depression
• intense and persistent sadness

Mania
• extreme elation and agitation
 Depression episode

• Intense and persistent sadness

Diagnosis Criteria
• Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day
• feeling sad, empty, hopeless, or appearing tearful to others
• Loss of interest and pleasure in usual activities.
• Must have 5 symptoms for at least a two-week period.
• Symptoms cause significant distress or impair normal functioning
and are not caused by substances or a medical condition.
(Spielman et al., 2020)
Symptoms of Depression episode

• Depressed mood, such as feeling sad, empty, hopeless or

tearful
• Marked loss of interest or feeling no pleasure in all or almost all
activities
• Significant weight loss when not dieting, weight gain, or
decrease or increase in appetite Either insomnia or sleeping too
much
• Either restlessness or slowed behavior
• Fatigue or loss of energy Need 5
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt of these
• Decreased ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness symptoms to
• Thinking about, planning or attempting suicide be diagnosed
(Spielman et al., 2020)
Manic episode

• A manic episode is a period of at least one week when a person is

extremely high-spirited or irritable most of the day for most days,
possesses more energy than usual
• To be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a person must have
experienced at least one episode of mania or hypomania. Hypomania
is a milder form of mania that doesn’t include psychotic episodes.
People with hypomania can often function well in social situations or
at work. Some people with bipolar disorder will have episodes of
mania or hypomania many times throughout their life; others may
experience them only rarely (Bipolar disorder 2020)
Symptoms of Manic episode

• Excessively talkative
• Excessively irritable
• Exhibit flight of ideas – talk loudly and rapidly, abruptly switching
from one topic to another
• Easily distracted
• Exhibit grandiosity – inflated but unjustified self-esteem and self-
confidence
• Show little need for sleep
• Take on several tasks at once
• Engage in reckless behaviors
(Spielman et al., 2020)
Prevalence

• More common in Men than women

• Onset is before age of 25
• 1 in 100 people experience bipolar disorder in their
lifetime
• About 50% do not receive treatment
• About 36% attempt suicide
• Between 15%-19% die by suicide
• Genetic factors play strong role in bipolar disorder.
• Relative of patients with bipolar disorder have 9 times
the risk developing bipolar disorder
(Spielman et al., 2020)
What happens inside their head?

• Imbalance level of
neurotransmitter:
• Norepinephrine and
Serotonin
• Regulate bodily functions
that disrupted in mood
disorders
• Appetite, sec, drive, sleep,
arousal and mood
(Spielman et al., 2020)
Treatments and Medications

• Psychotherapy or talk therapy

• Mood stabilizer and second generation antipsychotics
• Medications that target sleep or anxiety
• Antidepressant medication for depressive episodes
• Antidepressant with mood stabilizer to prevent triggering a manic
episode (Bipolar disorder 2020)
Beyond Treatment: what else can be done?

• National Institute of Mental Health recommends an individual

with bipolar disorder to do the following:

• Regular aerobic exercise

• to help with depression and anxiety
• promote better sleep
• Healthy for heart and brain

• Keeping a Life Chart

• Record daily mood symptoms, treatment,
sleep patterns and life events
• To help track and treat bipolar disorder over time.
(Bipolar disorder 2020)
References

• Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). 15.7
mood and related disorders - psychology 2E. OpenStax. Retrieved April
28, 2022, from
https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/15-7-mood-
and-related-disorders
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020, January).
Bipolar disorder. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved April
27, 2022, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-
disorder