Table of contents:
- Types of bipolar disorder
- Bipolar disorder: symptoms
- Manic episode symptoms
- Depressive episode symptoms
- What differentiates bipolar disorder from mood swings?
- Bipolarity: treatment
- Medication
- Psychotherapy
Bipolar disorder or manic-depressive disorder is a disorder that causes abnormal changes in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out activities of daily living. There are 4 basic types of bipolar disorder, all of them present these unusual changes, which vary from periods of excessive mood, euphoria and energy (manic episode) to periods in which the person is very sad (depressive periods). When manic periods are not very bad, they are called hypomanic episodes. In this Psychology-Online article, we will talk about the different types of bipolar disorder that exist.
You may also be interested in: Bipolar disorder, types and causes Index- Types of bipolar disorder
- Bipolar disorder: symptoms
- What differentiates bipolar disorder from mood swings?
- Bipolarity: treatment
Types of bipolar disorder
We can distinguish between the following types of bipolar disorder:
- Bipolar type I: is defined by manic episodes that last at least 7 days or by manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs hospital treatment. Typically, depressive episodes last about 2 weeks. Episodes of depression with mixed characteristics (depressive and manic symptoms) can also occur.
- Bipolar type II: it is defined by depressive and hypomanic episodes, but in a more advanced state than in type I.
- Cyclothymic: defined by numerous periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms that last at least 2 years (1 year in children and adolescents). However, the symptoms do not meet the diagnostic criteria for a hypomanic and depressive episode.
- Unspecified and other related disorders: it would be bipolar symptoms that do not correspond to the categories previously described.
Bipolar disorder: symptoms
People with bipolar disorder experience periods of intense emotion, changes in sleep patterns and activity levels, and unusual behaviors. These episodes are very different from the typical mood and behaviors in a person. Changes in energy, activity, and sleep correspond to variations in mood.
Sometimes a mood episode includes manic and depressive symptoms, known as a mixed episode. The person may feel very sad, empty, or hopeless, while at the same time feeling full of energy.
Manic episode symptoms
- Excessive energy.
- High levels of activity.
- Be nervous.
- Talk very fast on different topics, change the subject very quickly.
- Increased irritability, agitation, and sensitivity.
- Feeling that thoughts go too fast.
- Thinking that they can do a multitude of things at the same time.
- Risky behaviors: spending large amounts of money, reckless sex…
Depressive episode symptoms
- Sadness, low mood, feeling of emptiness…
- Low energy, low activity levels.
- Trouble sleeping, sleeping too little or too much.
- They feel that there is nothing that amuses them, they feel worried or empty.
- Trouble concentrating, forget things to do.
- Problems with food: increase or decrease in intake.
- They think about death and suicide.
Bipolar disorder can occur in a more mild way, that is, with less sudden changes in mood. During a hypomanic episode, the person can feel very good, be very productive, and function very well. You feel like nothing is wrong, but your family and friends may notice unusual changes that may indicate bipolar disorder. Without proper treatment, people with hypomania can develop mania or depression.
What differentiates bipolar disorder from mood swings?
The three criteria that differentiate bipolar disorder from mood swings that we can consider "normal" are:
- Intensity: The mood swings that make up bipolar disorder are more severe and more intense than the mood swings that are considered normal.
- Duration : a mood change lasts approximately a few days, while a manic or depressive episode can last for months and is characterized by very sudden changes.
- Alteration of the person's life: the changes that characterize bipolar disorder usually produce great alterations in the person's life (not going to work, stopping daily activities…). On the other hand, changes in the mood considered normal do not prevent the person from carrying out the usual activities in their day to day.
Bipolarity: treatment
Treatment can help you gain better control over mood swings and other bipolar symptoms, even for those with more severe symptoms. An effective treatment includes medication and psychotherapy. Bipolar disorder is a chronic disorder, and episodes of mania and depression recur over time. Among these episodes, many people do not present any type of symptoms, although others show persistent symptoms. In the long term, continuous treatment helps control these symptoms.
Medication
There are different types of medication that can help control the symptoms of bipolar disorder. A person may need to try different types of psychotropic drugs before finding the one that is right for them.
The psychotropic drugs that are used mainly in bipolar disorder are: mood stabilizers, atypical antipsychotics and antidepressants.
Psychotherapy
In many cases, psychotherapy is used in combination with psychopharmacological treatment with good results. During therapy, the person can talk about the feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that are causing problems in their life. Therapy can help you understand and manage any problems that disrupt normal life functioning. Some therapies used in bipolar disorder are:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: focuses on identifying and modifying the thinking patterns that accompany mood swings and on behaviors that reduce stress.
- Family-centered therapy: aimed at family relationships and creating a supportive context at home.
- Interpersonal therapy: focuses on relationships and how to reduce the stresses that the disorder produces.
- Social Rhythm Therapy: Helps develop and maintain a “normal” sleep routine and well-defined daily routines.
- Psychoeducation: both for the bipolar person and for their family. It consists of knowing how to identify the early symptoms of the episodes, establish routines, etc.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Types of bipolar disorder and its symptoms, we recommend that you enter our category of Clinical Psychology.