5 Things You Need to Know About Bipolar Affective Disorder

1. Bipolar Affective Disorder's a Bumpy Ride

Also known as bipolar disorder, manic-depression or manic-depressive illness, bipolar affective disorder produces incredible mood swings in the people it affects. Sufferers experience alternating periods of extreme euphoria and deep sadness, each often lasting for weeks or even months on end. The severity of these shifts varies greatly from person to person, but when left untreated they almost always make leading a normal and productive life difficult, if not impossible.

2. Keep an Eye Out for Peaks and Valleys

Because the symptoms of bipolar disorder are so extreme, it's often easy to spot. During periods of mania, people have intense feelings of happiness, optimism and self-confidence. During periods of depression, these same people feel sad, hopeless, fatigued, guilty and anxious, and may sometimes think about committing suicide. Because of the toll these symptoms take on people's lives, it's important to recognize them when they occur and encourage whoever is having them to seek medical attention.

3. Not Every Disorder's the Same

Bipolar disorder comes in three major varieties: bipolar I, bipolar II and cyclothymia. Patients who've had at least one manic episode are diagnosed with bipolar I disorder, regardless of whether they've had a depressive episode. Patients who've experienced depression and a moderate kind of mania called hypomania are diagnosed with bipolar II disorder. Cyclothymia produces the same mood swings as both of these disorders, only they're not as severe.

4. Getting to the Root of Manic Depression

The causes and risk factors for bipolar disorder are a bit ambiguous. Doctors know most cases of the disorder appear in young adults between the ages of 15 and 30. They also think some people are genetically predisposed to the disorder. Of course, not all people with this predisposition develop the full-blown disorder. Environmental factors also play a large role in its occurrence. Scientists have also observed a link between bipolar disorder and the levels of certain chemicals in the brain. Specifically, imbalanced levels of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine have been found in patients with the condition.

5. Mastering Mood Swings With Medication

People with bipolar disorder are usually able to get relief from their symptoms by taking certain medications. Mood stabilizers like lithium prevent emotional swings and are currently the most popular form of treatment. Antiseizure, antipsychotic and antidepressant medications may also be prescribed, although the effectiveness of some of these drugs is debatable. If you've recently been diagnosed with a form of bipolar disorder, talk to your doctor about which combination of medication is best for you and your symptoms.