Bipolar Disorder

Does Fish Oil Interact With Lamictal?

Lamotrigine, or Lamictal, is a drug prescribed to treat bipolar disorder. Some patients with bipolar disorder take supplements, such as fish oil, in addition to their regular medications. Fish oil might help relieve the symptoms of bipolar disorder. As of 2011, no evidence suggests fish oil interacts with Lamictal. However, you should consult your physician before you begin taking fish oil or any other supplement for your bipolar disorder.

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All About Bipolar Disorder

Lecithin for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder can wreak havoc on your life, affecting your well-being and your ability to function. While a number of treatments can help manage your symptoms, researchers have also been delving into the area of nutritional ...

Taurine Dosage for Bipolar Two Disorder

Bipolar II disorder is a less extreme form of Bipolar I, historically called manic depression. In bipolar II, individuals experience mood swings, but they do not enter into a true manic or depressive episode. A hypomanic episod...

A Vitamin Regimen for Bipolar Disorder and Extreme Fatigue

Vitamins are essential for the function of the brain and organs. Bipolar disorder and extreme fatigue are conditions that make it difficult to perform daily tasks. According to Mayoclinic.com, several conditions are associated ...

B6 & Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that causes significant impairment to your quality of life and your ability to function. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, bipolar disorder affects around 2.6 per...

Bipolar Disorder & Taurine

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental disorder that requires medication for effective treatment. Antipsychotics, mood stabilizers and benzodiazepines are the most effective treatment combination. The mood stabilizer lithium is t...

Vitamins in Food for Bipolar Disorder

Chemical imbalances in the brain are the main component to bipolar disorder. Genetics and environmental factors also contribute to its development. There is no cure for bipolar disorder and medication only treats symptoms. Acco...

Bipolar Disorder and Amino Acids

Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, is a complex psychological condition that can encompass changing moods and behaviors that are often difficult to treat holistically or traditionally with single pharmaceuticals. This disor...

Supplements for Bipolar Two Disorder

Alternating moods characterized by highs and lows are the primary symptoms of bipolar disorder II. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 2.6 percent of the adult population in the United States suffer from...

Phosphatidylserine & Bipolar Disorder

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or the DSM-IV-TR, describes bipolar I disorder as the presence of at least one manic or hypomanic episode. A manic episode consists of periods of grandiosity, decreased...

Bipolar Disorder and Melatonin

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that causes a severe impact to your quality of life and overall well-being. Sleep difficulties are characteristic symptoms of bipolar disorder. In fact, bipolar disorder is one of th...

Herbal Supplements for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is characterized by abrupt mood swings that range from periods of mania to bouts of depression. Bipolar disorder affects men and women alike and usually emerges between the ages of 15 to 25, states PubMed Healt...

Herbal Medicine for Bipolar Disorder

According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, certain herbal remedies may help reduce or alleviate some of the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Always talk to your doctor before using herbal remedies to treat any medical condit...

Vitamins & Minerals for Bipolar Disorder

Use of vitamin and mineral supplements in combination with other therapies has had some promising results in treating symptoms of bipolar. Always talk to your health care provider before taking any dietary supplementation.

Vitamins for Bipolar Disorder

Approximately two million adults in the United States develop bipolar disorder each year, according to Francis Mondimore, author of the book "Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families." Bipolar disorder, also known as...

Yoga for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, a mental health condition characterized by intense mood changes, may be improved by performing yoga. While effects need to be further studied, yoga appears to be a promising treatment option. Talk to your doct...

Bipolar Disorder & Nutritional Deficiency

Bipolar disorder is a mental condition characterized by fluctuations in mood, sleep disturbances, agitation, hyperactivity and recurring bouts of depression. There is no simple fix or cure for bipolar disorder, yet maintaining ...

Vitamins & Herbs for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorders, also known as manic-depressive conditions, affect both men and women and are characterized by episodes of mania and depression. Conventional treatment includes drugs that help stabilize the mood and psychothe...

Bipolar Depressive Disorder Herbal Alternatives

Bipolar depressive disorder is a psychological condition characterized by alternating periods of depression and mania, with depression being predominant, according to Phyllis Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Heali...

Herbs for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar depression is a form of depression characterized by alternating episodes of depression and mania. Another term for bipolar depression is manic depression. Symptoms of this condition may vary greatly from person to perso...

Foods to Avoid with Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depression and characterized by extreme, unusual shifts in energy, activity levels and mood that interfere with your ability to function normally. According to the National Institute of M...

Minerals and Bipolar Disorder

Many people who suffer from bipolar disorder take psychotropic drugs to stabilize their moods. New evidence emerged to suggest that supplementing a bipolar person's nutrition with certain minerals can have the same effects of d...

Nutritional Supplements for Bipolar Disorder

The National Institute of Mental Health explains that bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is associated with extreme mood episodes. In a depressive episode, a person with bipolar disorder may be sad, hopel...

Bipolar Disorder & Dopamine

When imbalances occur, a person is at risk for physical, as well as a variety of mental, conditions to occur. One disorder related to such imbalances is bipolar disorder. The brain chemical dopamine has been identified as part ...

How Exercise Affects Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder can be managed effectively with medication and lifestyle changes. Among the recommended lifestyle changes is a program of consistent exercise. Exercise can be helpful in dealing with the excess energy of manic...

Nutrition Tips for People With Bipolar Disorder

Mental illnesses often respond well to changes in diet and physical activity. People who suffer from bipolar disorder will often experience an alleviation in some of their symptoms by monitoring what they eat. Bipolar disorder ...

How to Communicate With Someone With Bipolar Disorder

A person with bipolar disorder alternates between bleak depression and giddy mania. Someone who is depressed is preoccupied with feelings of guilt and, often, thoughts of death, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manua...

ADHD & Bipolar Disorder in Adults

Diagnosis as an adult can be more difficult as the criteria must be viewed somewhat differently. According to the National Institute for Mental Health, 4.1 percent of adults between ages 18 and 44 have been diagnosed with ADHD....

Bipolar Disorder & the Risks of Pregnancy

Bipolar disorder, a disease characterized by mood swings and cyclic manic behavior, affects between 0.5 percent and 1.5 percent of people in the United States, according to Dr. Kimberly Yonkers of Yale University of Connecticut...

Bipolar Disorder & Fish Oil

Bipolar disorder causes mood swings ranging from depression to mania. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil and some plants, are essential for overall health, including that of the brain. According to the University of Marylan...

What Chemicals Are Involved With Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder, refers to a group of mood disorders that varies in the severity of episodes of mania and depression and the predominant type of episode. Certain chemicals, also called ...

About Explosive Anger and Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder that affects a person's mood. In the manic phase he may be unable to control his impulses. This lack of control over impulses can lead to intense bouts of anger that becomes explosiv...

Childhood Bipolar Disorder and Abuse

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder, can emerge during childhood, adolescence or adulthood. Bipolar disorder is a chronic brain disorder characterized by extreme changes in mood, behavior, thinking and and...

How Is Bipolar Disorder Inherited Genetically?

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that combines episodes of either mania and depression or hypomania and depression. People with bipolar disorder over periods of time experience individual episodes of mania and depression, a...

Clinical Approaches in Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder was previously referred to by clinicians as manic-depressive illness, but has since been renamed. The National Institutes of Mental Health points out that bipolar disorder can be a severe and progressively wors...

Exercise & Bipolar Mood Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder found in about 2.6 percent of the U.S. population, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. In most cases, bipolar disorder can be managed with medication and/or counseling. Exer...

Alcohol, Anger and Bipolar Disorders

Bipolar disorder is a mood affliction often characterized by symptoms of mania and depression. Alcohol use is a common occurrence among people with bipolar disorder because it is generally a way to calm themselves and reduce th...

How to Detect Bipolar Disorder in Childhood

Bipolar disorder is a psychological condition, characterized by wide-ranging, manic mood swings, violent outbursts and depression. Also known as manic depression, bipolar disorder is usually treated with medication and psycholo...

ADHD & Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that combines episodes of depression and mania. A person with bipolar disorder will experience shifts in mood that can be lessened with treatment. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (AD...

Clinical Approaches to Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder has several forms, including bipolar 1 disorder, with mania and major depression; bipolar II disorder, with hypomania and major depression; and cyclothymia, with hypomania and mild depression, reports HelpGuide...

Alternative Supplements for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a condition characterized by extremes of polarity affecting psychological and behavioral conduct. The condition is a result of neurotransmitter or brain chemical imbalances that lead to drastic shifts betwee...

Genetic Links of Bipolar Disorder

People with bipolar disorder suffer from alternating episodes of mania--uncontrolled exuberance--and depression. Studies have clearly established a role of heredity in bipolar disorder. Most scientists believe that many genes, ...

What Are the Mood Changes That Accompany Bipolar Disorder?

The mood changes associated with bipolar disorder can occur rapidly and are often severe. However, a patient can help prevent relapses by following a proper action plan. The mood changes related to this disorder drastically con...

Daily Triggers for Bipolar Disorder

Each individual with bipolar disorder will have things that can trigger the disorder that are specific to the person. According to HelpGuide.org, it is important to pay attention to subtle changes in mood, sleep patterns, energ...

Abilify for Acute Mania & Bipolar Disorder

Psychiatrists prescribe Abilify to treat bipolar disorder and acute mania, in addition to other psychological disorders. Originally developed to treat psychosis, it proved to be effective in maintaining mood stability in people...

How to Detect Bipolar Disorder in Childhood

Bipolar disorder generally becomes apparent by the age of 20, but is many times diagnosed earlier, reports the TeensHealth website. Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that causes shifts in mood from the highs of mania to the l...

A Parent With Bipolar Disorder

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), more than 10 million Americans are afflicted with the chronic condition of bipolar disorder. The symptoms of bipolar disorder may be hard to handle for children of pa...

Alternatives to Topomax for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a form of mental illness characterized by alternating episodes of profound depression and exaggerated euphoria, or mania. In a depressive phase, an individual can find it hard to carry out normal daily func...

Genetic Factors of Bipolar Disorder

The repercussions of bipolar disorder can devastate an individual’s life with social and career disruptions and suicidal thoughts. The person with bipolar disorder can phase between episodes of paralyzing depression and u...

Characteristics of Bipolar II Disorder

Bipolar II disorder differs from bipolar I in some ways. In general they are both a disorder of mood that ranges from extreme highs to extreme lows. Unlike bipolar I, which emphasizes the manic phase occurrences, bipolar II pre...

Bipolar Disorder Test Procedures

It is common to experience mood swings at some time during your life, but when mood swings become severe and chronic, they can be disruptive and harmful. Bipolar disorder is characterized by abnormally extreme episodes of depr...

How Does Valproic Acid Work for Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar Disorder consists of episodes of either mania or hypomania and of depression. There are a variety of bipolar disorders, categorized depending on whether someone has more episodes of mania or depression and how frequent ...

Self-Help for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a classic mood disorder that causes both manic highs and depressive lows. According to the Mayo Clinic, the mood shifts of bipolar disorder may occur only a few times a year or more often, even several times...

How Does Lamictal Work for Bipolar Disorder?

For many years, those with bipolar disorder had few treatment options. If lithium was ineffective or caused unwanted side effects, there were few directions to turn. These days, many drugs initially synthesized to control seizu...

Bipolar Disorder Triggers

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that affects mood and behaviors. The National Institute of Mental Health explains that this condition is a lifelong brain disorder that may have periods of remission in symptoms, bu...

Exercise for Bipolar Mood Disorder

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, bipolar disorder is a psychological disorder that is marked by severe mood changes. Individuals with bipolar disorder may experience major depressive episodes alternating w...

Disease Management for Bipolar Disorder

While no cure exists for bipolar disorder, effective management of this illness can enable most people to lead highly functioning, healthy lives. Managing bipolar disorder is complex and may include psychotherapy, medication an...

Nutritional Needs for Bipolar Disorder

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, or NIMH, bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes severe changes in mood, energy level and activity levels. Individuals with bipolar disorder can experience periods ...

About Pediatric Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that tends to be diagnosed in adults, but has been found to occur in childhood as well. As reported by the National Institute of Mental Health, bipolar disorder occurs in 2.6 percent of the a...

Fish Oil for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder causes extreme mood swings, according to Mayo Clinic. Bouts of depression during which you may lose interest in friends, family and activities are followed by bouts of mania when you may feel euphoric and unabl...

Definition of Bipolar 1 Disorder

Approximately 5.7 million adults in the U.S. have received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive illness, a "brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry ou...

Bipolar Disorder Risk Factors

Bipolar disorder---sometimes called manic-depressive disorder---is a chronic condition characterized by extreme high and low swings in mood. Though it can develop at any age, from childhood through late adulthood, it most commo...

Gender Differences in Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes debilitating alternating periods of depression and mania. It affects energy, mood, cognition, sleep, family stability and work relations. The National Alliance for Mental Illness...

About Hypomanic Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental condition that is characterized by intense mood swings, from manic highs to depressive lows. Each "swing of the pendulum" is considered a cycle. As a person in a depressed cycle starts to sw...

Bipolar Disorder Characteristics

Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is a mental illness with features of mania and depression. People with this condition experience extreme cycles of mood and energy level. The National Alliance on Mental Ill...

About Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a serious condition, resulting in periods of manic and depressive episodes. Bipolar disorder typically begins in the late teen years and affects more than two and a half million Americans, according to the D...

Activities for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, commonly referred to as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes changes in energy level, mood, activity levels, and the ability to accomplish goals and tasks in a timely fashion. According to...

Bipolar 1 Disorder With Psychotic Features

Bipolar I disorder with psychotic features is a mood disorder characterized by unusually euphoric or agitated moods, along with depression or a mix of high and low moods. Psychotic symptoms are also part of this disorder, which...

Bipolar Disorders in Teens

Bipolar disorders are mental illnesses that are generally defined by an individual experiencing cycles of mania and depression. Bipolar disorders are usually associated with adults but can afflict teens and even children. In a ...

Biological Factors of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by mood shifts that range from extreme mania to extreme depression. Mania may include feelings of euphoria, risky behavior, poor judgment, impulsive behaviors, increased sexual ...

Bipolar Disorder Checklist

The two disorders are bipolar I and bipolar II, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates bipolar disorders affect approximately 5.7 million a...

Abilify and Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a serious mood disorder characterized by manic and depressive episodes. These episodes typically last two or more weeks at a time; however, some patients experience rapid mood shifts. Bipolar disorder can ef...

What Are the Origins of Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a form of mental illness that produces high and low mood swings. It is broken into several forms. Bipolar I is the traditional form known previously as manic-depressive disorder, and is characterized by long...

Bipolar Disorder Risks to Offspring

Bipolar disorder is a type of mood disorder characterized by episodes of mania or depression. These episodes typically last two or more weeks at a time; however, some patients experience rapid mood shifts. According to the Nati...

About Bipolar Affective Disorders

Bipolar disorder, also called manic depression, is a severe illness that causes a person to experience extreme shifts in his mood. Bipolar disorder is the sixth leading cause of disability in the world, according to the World H...

Top Medicines for Bipolar Disorder

The brain disorder termed bipolar affects about 5.7 million adults in the United States, with about 2.6 percent of those 18 years of age and older. Most bipolar patients show symptoms of cycling depression and euphoria at about...

About the Therapy for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is characterized by intense mood swings identified as manic and depressive episodes. People with this disorder experience major issues at work and with friends and family member...

Medicines to Manage Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder that causes mood changes, alternating from euphoria or agitation to depression. It is also known as manic depressive disorder and most commonly starts during the late teen or early adult ye...

Evidence-Based Practices for Bipolar Disorder

Most people occasionally experience mood swings. For individuals that have bipolar disorder blistering highs and severe depressions can impair their lives and even lead to suicide. People who suffer from bipolar disorder need s...

What Is Bipolar 1 & 2?

The DSM-IV, a diagnostic manual prevalent in the medical community for the diagnosis of mental conditions, divides bipolar disorder into several categories. Of these, bipolar I and II disorder are the most prevalent. While both...

Alcoholics With Bipolar Disorder

It is not uncommon for alcoholics to have a secondary bipolar diagnosis. While the reasons for this coexistence remain muddied, as does an understanding of which condition appears first, what is clear is that the presence of bo...

What Is Bipolar Disorder NOS?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association includes Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (NOS) as one of several classifications that fall under the bip...

What Is Bipolar Type 1?

Bipolar I disorder, or manic depression, is a type of mood disorder with alternating episodes of depression and mania. Bipolar I disorder causes impairment if not treated, and also can cause much distress for those with the c...

ADHD Vs. Bipolar Disorder in Adults

Some mental health issues appear similar---so related, in fact, that mental health professionals have to have intensive intake sessions to determine someone's diagnosis. Bipolar disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity diso...

About Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is also known as manic depression or manic-depressive illness. It results in extreme mood swings that can make a person go from being highly energetic and happy to being severely depressed. A chemical imbalance...

Exercise & Bipolar Mood Disorder

Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, is a medical condition that causes a person's moods to swing from extreme highs to major lows. Two 2009 studies have shown that getting regular exercise can make a noticeable difference to...

Caffeine & Bipolar Disorder

Physicians recommend that bipolar patients avoid consumption of caffeinated substances such as coffee. Caffeine disrupts bipolar patients' sleep cycles, contributing to attacks of mania and hypomania. A 2009 study uncovered an ...

Environmental Influences on Bipolar Disorder

The extreme mood swings of bipolar disorder have long been treated by medication management. Though the cause of the disorder is not known, scientists now believe that it is the combined result of many factors. There are many e...

Environmental Triggers for Bipolar Disorder

The management of bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, has focused primarily on medications as treatment. Although the cause is not known, bipolar disorder is thought to be hereditary, since it commonly runs in fam...

Fish Oil and Bipolar Disorder

While studies have not yet conclusively demonstrated fish oil's efficacy as a treatment for mental illness, emerging evidence reveals it may help to treat some of the symptoms associated with bipolar disorder.

Diagnostic Criteria for Bipolar Disorder

Also called manic depression, bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or the DSM. For a patient to be diagnosed with one of the four types of bipolar dis...

Differences Between Schizophrenia & Bipolar Disorder

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are two psychological disorders that affect the patient's mood and how she functions. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that schizophrenia is a rare disorder, affecting 1 percent ...

Bipolar Disorder Classifications

Bipolar disorder is a severe mood disorder that usually begins in late adolescence or early adulthood. Most researchers agree that the disorder has no one specific cause, but multiple factors act together to cause bipolar disor...

About Bipolar Mood Disorder

Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive disorder. It causes extreme and unusual changes in moods. People with bipolar disorder can be very energetic with a high level of activity for a period of time, followed by per...

Characteristics of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is a serious mental illness affecting millions of people worldwide. It has been identified by the World Health Organization as the sixth most-impairing illness in terms of t...

Checklist for Bipolar Disorder

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 5.7 million American adults are affected by bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder can be troubling to the patient as well as his family, so a timely diagnosis is important to o...

List of Bipolar Disorders

Of these 26 million, more than 5 million are cases of bipolar disorder. While debilitating, treatment is available to ease its symptoms, allowing those diagnosed to function normally. However the key to treatment is knowing th

Resources on Bipolar Disorder

Considered a lifelong condition, bipolar disorder affects more than 10 million people in the United States, according to National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI). Bipolar disorder symptoms include shifts in energy levels, extr...

Free Bipolar Disorder Information

Bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive disorder, refers to a debilitating disease characterized by severe mood swings. At one moment, you may be hyper and energetic. The next moment you may be sad and depressed, accordi...

How to Live With a Bipolar Wife

When you have a wife with bipolar tendencies, then you know that daily life can be an up-and-down roller coaster, and that her moods sometimes are unexpected. But your marriage isn't over. You can work together with your wife t...

How to Check for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a condition in which a person suffers from extreme mood swings, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Patients may experience episodes of overexcite...

Natural Medicines for Bipolar Disorder

Although effective at controlling symptoms, traditional medications for bipolar disorder can have significant side effects. While the idea of natural medicines may provide hope, exercise caution in how you approach their use, b...

Natural Help for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder can benefit from natural help in addition to medication. Make sure you work with a provider and let her know what the forms of natural help you are using. If you ever feel suicidal or out of touch with reality,...

Bipolar Disorder & Memory Loss

If you have bipolar disorder, you might have difficulty remembering things or feel absent-minded. These memory problems can be related to your illness and can interfere with your recovery. Learning about them can help you deal ...

How Does a Person Get Bipolar Disorder?

Although researchers do not currently understand exactly what causes bipolar disorder, it is commonly thought that there is a genetic component. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, people who have a sibling or...

How the Bipolar Disorder Affects the Brain

Bipolar disorder, another name for manic depression, is a psychiatric illness that affects the brain and behavior. According to the Mayo Clinic, the cause of bipolar disorder is a bit of a mystery. It is thought, however, to be...

How Does Thyroid Function Affect Bipolar Disorder?

Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism have been associated with bipolar disorders. The relationship is complex. Michael Escamilla, M.D., of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center, stress...

How Does Bipolar Disorder Affect the Brain?

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that affects both the brain's function and a person's behavior. Also called manic depression, bipolar disorder is characterized by fluctuations between two extreme mood states: mania, the hi...

How Is Bipolar Disorder Diagnosed?

Bipolar disorder is typically first suspected based on its symptoms. Bipolar disorder causes periods of abnormally high (manic) mood followed by periods of abnormally low mood (depression). Because abnormally low mood is also i...

Bipolar Disorder FAQ

According to Dr. Harry Croft, Medical Director of Healthy Place, bipolar disorder is a common yet severe psychiatric illness. It affects your ability to think clearly and has a profound impact on your moods and behavior. Two ty...

How to Deal With a Person With Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a challenging mental illness that affects not only the patient but those close to him. This mood disorder often presents itself in volatile fashion, making it difficult for friends and family to deal with th...

Alternative Natural Cures for Bipolar Disorder

There are numerous claims on the internet and in natural health magazines of alternative remedy cures for bipolar disorder, but these claims are not scientifically proven. There is no known scientifically proven cure for bipola...

Bipolar Disorders

Bipolar disorder, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, is a mood disorder where patients cycle between mania and depression. However, not all patients exhibit the same symptoms of bipolar diso...

Adolescent Bipolar Disorders

According to the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, bipolar disorder was thought to be a disorder that only affected adults. However, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is the psychiatry indu...

Bipolar Disorder & Marijuana

Also known as manic depression, the condition can be debilitating and prevent normal daily activities. According to the Mayo Clinic, marijuana use is common among people with bipolar disorder, but researchers are not sure wheth...

Bipolar Disorder and Teenagers

Overview Bipolar disorder can occur in children and adolescents and has been investigated by federally funded teams in children as young as age 6. Although once thought rare, caseloads of patients examined for federally fund...

6 Ways to Self-Test for Bipolar Disorder

One sign that you might be suffering from a bipolar disorder is that you're constantly excusing your behavior in front of others. An accurate way to conduct a self-test is to record how many times you say to others, "I haven't ...

4 Ways to Exercise for Bipolar Disorder

You've probably heard it a million times before, but you need to talk with your doctor before you start any exercise regimen. If you're suffering from a bipolar disorder, you may be taking prescription medications that limit yo...

5 Ways to Recognize Different Forms of Bipolar Disorder

Some people with bipolar disorder switch from manic to depressed and back again with startling frequency. While rapid cycling bipolar disorder is technically classified as having at least four mood changes within a year, many ...

4 Ways to Fight Bipolar Disorder Naturally

Certain foods can negatively affect your mood, whether you have bipolar disorder or not. If you're already feeling manic or depressed, eating these foods can exacerbate your symptoms. So make sure you severely limit or complet...

3 Ways to Use Anti-Psychotics for Bipolar Disorder

Anti-psychotics are used to treat episodes of severe mania in bipolar disorder. Manic episodes can veer out of control quickly, and may produce symptoms of psychosis. An anti-psychotic drug may be prescribed for long-term use ...

3 Ways to Test for Bipolar Disorder

Even if you have all the symptoms of bipolar disorder, it may not be a mental problem. A doctor who suspects bipolar disorder will have a complete physical examination performed to rule out other factors. The physical will tes...

5 Things You Need to Know About Bipolar Disorder

Highs and lows--recklessness and listlessness--that's what people with bipolar disorder live with. During a manic phase, a person with bipolar disease is usually agitated and may engage in risky behavior. Then it's a period of...

5 Things You Need to Know About Bipolar Affective Disorder

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 an...

3 Ways to Understand Bipolar Disorder

Formerly known as manic-depressive disorder, bipolar disorder is often characterized by mood swings. These mood swings can shift between agitated action and extreme depression, sometimes within a short period of time. Some of ...