Bipolar Disorder Kayla Burnett 3/6/2013 Period 4.

Bipolar Disorder

Kayla Burnett3/6/2013Period 4

What is Bipolar Disorder?

•Bipolar I is considered the most severe of the bipolar brain disorders and can cause full-blown manic or depressive stages (or mixes of both) for seven consecutive days, often times requiring hospitalization.

•Bipolar II generally causes depressive states with some hypomanic states experienced too.

What causes bipolar disorder?

• The cause of bipolar disorder is not certain

• Since two-thirds of bipolar patients have family members who have had affective or emotional disorders, researchers have searched for a genetic link to the disorder

• A possible biological cause under investigation is the presence of an excessive calcium build-up in the cells of bipolar patients

• Also, dopamine and other neurochemical transmitters appear to be implicated in bipolar disorder

Causes Continued...

• Over half of patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder have a history of substance abuse

• There is a high rate of association between cocaine abuse and bipolar disorder because the effects of cocaine-- manic highs and depressive lows-- make bipolar disorder hard to diagnose

Who does bipolar disorder target?

• Bipolar disorder can affect absolutely anyone

• The average age of onset of bipolar disorder is from adolescence through the early twenties

• However, because of the complexity of the disorder, a correct diagnosis can be delayed for several years or more

Bipolar Targets Continued...

• Bipolar symptoms are often present differently in children and adolescents. Manic episodes in these age groups are typically characterized by more psychotic features than in adults, which may lead to a misdiagnosis of schizophrenia

• Children and adolescents also tend toward irritability and aggressiveness instead of elation

• Further, symptoms tend to be chronic, or ongoing, rather than acute, or episodic. Bipolar children are easily distracted, impulsive, and hyperactive, which can lead to a misdiagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Where does bipolar disorder affect the CNS?

• The main area of the central nervous system affected by bipolar disorder are the neurotransmitters, specifically monoamines

--Monoamines are a group of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) that modulate functions of the brain, including responses to stress, pleasure, reward, mood, concentration and attention

• Thalamus and brain stem (ventral and raphe)-- Bipolar patients have an average of 31% and 28% more monoamine binding sites in the brain's thalamic region and ventral brain stem.

What are the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?

• Depressive episodes:

--include low energy levels, feelings of despair, difficulty concentrating, extreme fatigue, and psychomotor retardation (slowed mental and physical capabilities)

• Manic episodes:

-- characterized by feelings of euphoria, lack of inhibitions, racing thoughts, diminished need for sleep, talkativeness, risk taking, and irritability and in extreme cases a manic episode can include hallucinations and other psychotic symptoms such as grandiose illusions

• Grandiose illusions:--Characterized by fantastical beliefs that one is famous,

omnipotent, wealthy, or otherwise very powerful. They tend to hold a sort of sci-fi/ supernatural theme as well as religious

What is the prognosis for someone with Bipolar Disorder?

• While most patients will show some positive response to treatment, response varies widely, from full recovery to a complete lack of response to all drug and/or ECT therapy

• Patients with untreated or inadequately treated bipolar disorder have a suicide rate of 15-25% and a nine-year decrease in life expectancy

• With proper treatment, the life expectancy of the bipolar patient will increase by nearly seven years and work productivity increases by ten years

Is There a Cure for Bipolar Disorder?

• Treatment of bipolar disorder is usually by means of medication. A combination of mood stabilizing agents with antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants is used to regulate manic and depressive episodes.

• Lithium is one of the oldest and most frequently prescribed drugs available for the treatment of bipolar mania and depression

--Possible side effects of the drug include weight gain, thirst, nausea, and hand tremors. Prolonged lithium use may also cause hyperthyroidism (a disease of the thyroid that is marked by heart palpitations, nervousness, the presence of goiter, sweating, and a wide array of other symptoms.)

Cures Continued...

• Because antidepressants may stimulate manic episodes in some bipolar patients, their use is typically short-term

• Bipolar patients also use things known as SSRI's, Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or most commonly MAOI's, monoamine oxidase inhibitors

• SSRI's -- fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and paroxetine (Paxil), regulate depression

by regulating levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter. Anxiety, diarrhea, drowsiness, headache, sweating, nausea, sexual problems, and insomnia are all possible side effects of SSRIs

• MAOI's --tranylcypromine (Parnate) and phenelzine (Nardil) block the action of monoamine

oxidase (MAO), an enzyme in the central nervous system. Patients taking MAOIs must cut foods high in tyramine (found in aged cheeses and meats) out of their diet to avoid hypotensive side effects.

Notable Cases of Bipolar Disorder

Celebrities:• Russell Brand

• Stephen Fry

• Robert Downey Jr.

• Charles Dickens

• Mel Gibson

• Vivien Leigh

• Carrie Fisher

• Vincent Van Gogh

• Demi Lovato

• Isaac Newton

• Frank Sinatra

• Maria Bamford

• Ludwig Van Beethoven

• Amy Winehouse

• Robin Williams

• Marilyn Monroe

• Jimi Hendrix

Notable Cases Continued...

Mary Kay LetourneauThirty-five-year-old Mary Kay Letourneau, an experienced teacher,

wife and mother of four, had known Vili Fualaau since he was in second grade. They met again when he was in her sixth grade class. When he was 13 and in seventh grade, the two began an affair, and she became pregnant, giving birth to a daughter. Mary was subsequently arrested and charged with child rape.

Robert HansenAn Alaskan serial killer who captured his victims, usually exotic

dancers, and "hunted" them in the wilderness.

What are some organizations or treatment facilities that specialize in Bipolar Disorder?

Organizations:

•Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

•International Bipolar Foundation

•National Mental Health Information Center

Facility:

•UPMC Bipolar institute

Resources

1. Ford-Martin, P. A. (2002). Bipolar Disorder. In D. S. Blanchfield & J. L. Longe (Eds.), The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine (2nd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 485-490). Detroit: Gale. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3405600231&v=2.1&u=cary81451&it=r&p=GPS&sw=w

1. Basile, M. (2005). Bipolar Disorder. In B. Narins (Ed.), The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders (2nd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 166-170). Detroit: Gale. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3451500062&v=2.1&u=cary81451&it=r&p=GPS&sw=w