Bipolar Depression: What Are Your Treatment Options?
Bipolar disorder - also known as manic depression and bipolar depression - is a mental illness that is characterised by mood swings that range from euphoria to severe depression. It is a very disabling disorder that can have episodes lasting for weeks or months. Everyone who is around a person who suffers from this is affected and without proper treatment, many people fall to suicide. Bipolar depression can be treated, and if treated properly, those who suffer from it can usually live productive and happy lives.
Types of Bipolar Depression
There are two subtypes to bipolar depression. Bipolar I disorder is characterized by one manic episode with or without the corresponding depressive episode before or after. Bipolar II disorder is characterized by the individual experiencing at least one depressive episode and one hypomanic episode that lasted a few days. In bipolar II disorder, the depressive episodes last longer than the manic ones. A third type of bipolar disorder is cyclothymia, which is characterized by the same mood swings, but are not as severe as the others.
Rapid cycling bipolar disorder is when a person experiences four or more major mood swings in the course of twelve months. These mood swings can happen within hours of each other or months. Mixed state bipolar disorder is when the sufferer experiences depression and mania at the same time. Psychosis - or the detachment from reality - is triggered by severe episodes of both mania and depression.
Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder
Only a medical doctor can diagnose whether or not a person is suffering from bipolar depression. This is done through a variety of psychological and medical tests. The usual physical examination is done to make sure the person is healthy and blood tests may be carried out to make sure everything is functioning properly. Then a discussion about what has been going on including behaviour and feelings will commence. If the doctor feels it is necessary, he or she may send their patient to a psychological expert for treatment or more testing so that they can correctly diagnose the problem.
Treating Bipolar Depression
Individuals suffering from bipolar disorder who wish to live a productive and happy life will have to work at it for the rest of their life. This disorder will not go away after short-term treatment. The severity of the symptoms of the disorder will determine the exact treatments necessary. Medication - including anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, anti-seizure, anti-psychotic drugs - may be prescribed in conjunction with psychotherapy. The psychotherapy will help the individual change their behaviour, show them they are not alone when in a group, and help out the family members. Extreme cases of bipolar disorder may require electroconvulsive therapy and even hospitalization.