Bipolar Disorder: Finding the Light in the Dark

Bipolar Disorder: Finding the Light in the Dark

Affecting nearly one percent of the population of the United States, bipolar disorder has quickly become one of the leading forms of mental illness (Spearing). While advancements in medical science and technology have allowed researchers and physicians to understand its elements more clearly, the effects of bipolar disorder are tragic and often deadly. Often the negative results occur due to a lack of proper diagnosis: some seventy-five percent of bipolar cases go untreated (Spearing). Through proper education and public awareness, this serious disease can be properly diagnosed, treated and possibly cured.

Bipolar disorder, as defined by the Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, is a mood disorder that causes a person to suffer extreme emotional changes and shifts in mood. Previously known as manic-depressive disorder, bipolar disorder causes alternate periods of mania and depression. To fully understand the effects of this disease, it is important to comprehend the meanings of mania and depression. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines mania as "excitement manifested by mental and physical hyperactivity, disorganization of behavior, and elevation of mood." Depression, on the other hand, is defined as "a psychiatric disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate, insomnia, loss of appetite, feelings of extreme sadness, guilt, helplessness and hopelessness, and thoughts of death." (Merriam-Webster). The combination of the two results in emotional chaos.

Of all psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder is the most common, affecting between one and two million Americans (Spearing). While it affects males and females equally, there are a few distinctions that can be made about those who do have it. Amongst men, early onset bipolar disorder is more frequent while there is higher rate of rapid cycling, mixed states, and cyclothymia in women (Wurztel 28-31). Also, according to one survey, an estimated 59% of bipolar patients experienced their first symptoms when they were children or adolescents (Harakas G2). Studies show that bipolar disorder occurs in 1% of all age groups (Bipolar Survivor). Evanston Northwestern Hospital claims, "There is some indication that the incidence of bipolar disorder may be increasing."

While it is important to understand that bipolar disorder is a disease separate from the numerous other types of mental illnesses, it is also necessary to differentiate between the four different types of the disorder. The first type, Bipolar I, is the most often discussed. People who suffer from this type of bipolar disorder experience extreme periods of mania coupled with depression (Bailey). During the extreme times of mania, Bipolar I patients engage in activities that are exceptionally dangerous and eccentric yet they believe that their actions are normal. Such activities may include spending outrageous amounts of money, investing in business schemes without any research or knowledge of the investment, driving recklessly, and engaging in sexual promiscuity (Bipolar Survivor). Also, during advanced mania, all touch with reality is completely lost resulting in delusions and hallucinations (Bailey). With this type of bipolar disorder, there seems to be an abundant amount of energy with almost a complete lack of sleep (Bailey).

The second, and most common, type of bipolar disorder is known as Bipolar II. With this type, people experience recurrent bouts of depression without the psychotic episodes of mania. Unlike Bipolar I patients, they suffer from brief spells of hypomania during which they feel euphoric and have a great amount of self-confidence and energy (Bailey). While it may appear that hypomania is similar to general happiness, Dr. Hagop S. Akiskal, a senior advisor at the National Institute of Mental Health, states that "hypomania is a recurrent condition; happiness is not" (qtd. in Fireman 1470). Generally, this type of bipolar disorder is the mildest form of the disease and is the easiest to treat.

Medicated mania, or Bipolar III, is the third type of bipolar disorder. The main difference between this type and the others is that it is the direct result of drug treatment or electroconvulsive therapy for depression (Bailey). Most times this occurs because the patient is misdiagnosed with clinical depression. This misdiagnosis results in the prescription of anti-depressants that inadvertently cause a manic episode (Bailey).

The final classification of bipolar disorder is known as cyclothemia, or rapid cycling. This type is characterized by intense changes in mood occurring more frequently than what is typically expected in bipolar disorder (Bipolar Survivor). Often, a person with cyclothemia will experience periods of mania and depression within the same day or within hours. They often begin projects or tasks with enthusiasm but become quickly uninterested in them. Dr. Milton S. Gasparis, a doctor who specializes in family mental health disorders, indicates that the majority of those who suffer from this type develop it over time as the result of difficulty in treating Bipolar I or Bipolar II.

Diagnosing bipolar disorder is often difficult because the symptoms of the disease are often exhibited in several other illnesses (Harakas G2). Pendulum Resources, however, indicates that there are criteria that must be met in order to properly make the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. For a depressive episode, the person must exhibit at least five of the following symptoms during a two week period: depressed mood, loss of interest in all daily activities, significant weight loss or weight gain, insomnia or hypersomnia, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, inability to think or concentrate, and recurrent thoughts of death (Pendulum Resources). Three of the following symptoms must be exhibited in a period of one week: inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, excessive talking, racing thoughts or increased amount of ideas, distractibility, increased goal-oriented activity, and excessive involvement in pleasurable activities (Pendulum Resources). The symptoms for both a depressive episode and a manic episode must cause a significant impairment in social, family, and occupational functions. Finally, these symptoms must not be the direct result of a medical condition or medical treatment (Pendulum Resources). Until bipolar disorder is diagnosed, most people do not know what is wrong with them and they sometimes feel as if they should be "snapping out of it." They don't realize that their problem is a real disease. Until the disorder is correctly diagnosed, little or no improvement can be made to the person's condition (Gasparis).

Until recently, a diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children