Bipolar Disorder Facts

Bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive disorder, is one of the many mood disorders-abnormal psychological conditions characterized by extreme, repetitive swings in mood over prolonged periods in life. In such swings, the thoughts and energy of the person are changed such that he/she shows maladaptive behavior. Bipolar disorder is characterized by alternating episodes of mania (high energy and elated thought) and depression (low energy and blues). The duration of these mood conditions vary from hours to weeks and even months. In some cases, however, symptoms of mania and depression may occur together in a state called Mixed Bipolar State. Bipolar disorder facts show that over 2 million adult Americans suffer every year from it.
The Age of Vulnerability
Bipolar disorder facts reveal that this abnormality mostly strikes in late adolescence or early adult life (90 % cases start before age 20). However, some children do develop the first symptoms and it may well attack in older age. In many cases, it remains unnoticed as an abnormality and hence it is difficult to determine the exact age when the patient started to suffer from it.

Types of Bipolar Disorder
Two main types of bipolar disorder are commonly known: bipolar I disorder and bipolar II disorder. In the former case, the patient has experienced at least one episode of high mania. In bipolar II, the patient has not met a full mania but has experienced at least one episode of hypomania (milder form of elation). Numerous episodes of hypomania alternating with depression are called cyclothymic disorder.

Manic Episodes
Manic episodes are characterized by high activity, irritability and restlessness, euphoric feeling, racing thinking and speech hopping from topic to topic, impulsiveness, lack of concentration and poor judgment. In many cases the manic-depressive shows erratic or rash behavior e.g. in driving or sexual activity. In severe cases of mania, hallucinations (hearing voices that are not there) and delusions (strong irrational beliefs about reality) may also occur.

Depressive Episodes
Depression includes gloomy mood with feelings of emptiness and often crying spells. Feelings of guilt and helplessness encircle the person. There is either too much sleep or loss of sleep with loss of interest in appetite and other drives like sex, that once were part of enjoyment. A key feature of depressive cases is feelings of fatigue or lifelessness in the absence of any physical reasons like exertion or so. Pessimism, indifference, indecisiveness, and (in extreme cases) recurring thoughts of death and suicide are other main indicators of depression.

Victims of Bipolar Disorder
According to published bipolar disorder facts, the disorder occurs in all ages, races, ethnic groups and social classes. Men and women equally suffer from it, though women have been reported to experience more rapid cycling of mood swings. Also, over two thirds of the victims have at least one close relative suffering from the disorder or from major depression; a fact pointing to hereditary character of diseases in many cases.