Bipolar literally means two poles. It is a type of mood disorder which has two phases: Mania and Depression. Unlike popular belief, bipolar does not mean the mood swings that someone experiences on a day-to-day basis.
Mania is a psychotic state with heightened state of arousal and energy levels. The patient will experience an abnormal and persistent elevated, expansive, irritable mood with persistently increased energy, lasting 1 week or more.
Mania is a state of emergency and urgent intervention is required in such states.
The symptoms classically include:
A less aggressive form of the illness may present as hypomania wherein the patient is extremely agile, productive and sometimes very creative too. Such a state does not require any treatment, however, watchfulness is required to make sure the episode does not transform into a full-blown manic episode.
The patient usually requires hospitalization since such a patient can become harmful for themselves or people around. The treatment protocol includes use of medicines like:
ECT is required in very aggressive, uncontrolled mania. For details about ECT, please refer
Symptoms of depression are the same as Major Depressive Disorder.
Treatment: Hospitalization is required in the presence of active/passive suicidal thoughts or attempts. ECT is required in such cases too.
Use of medicines include:
