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Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric disorder which
is defined by significant and recurring disturbances in a person’s mood. ...
Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar disorder affects about 2.3 million adult Americans, which
is about 1.2% of the population. ... Bipolar disorder cannot be cured. ...
Bipolar Disorder. In recent years, the medical world has researched bipolar disorder,
also treatments and theories that would help prevent it. ...
Bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, can
be a serious and debilitating mental illness. This disorder ...
Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar disorder is a confusing and misunderstood illness.
Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive illness. ...
Submitted by Kissybear2002 on October 24, 2006
Category: Psychology
Words: 807 | Pages: 4
Views: 300
Popularity Rank: 31,318
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Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, can be a serious and debilitating mental illness. This disorder affects one percent (approximately three million people) of the population in the United States. It occurs equally in men and women. Although the exact cause remains unknown, it is believed that biologic, genetic, and environmental factors are involved in triggering the episodes of this illness. These episodes may last for weeks or months. Bipolar disorder frequently begins in adolescence or young adulthood, and peaks between 20 and 30 years of age. There is no cure for this illness; however, it can be controlled
with medication and other therapies.
Bipolar disorder involves phases of mania and depression. People with bipolar disorder tend to alternate between these two phases. Usually mania is the first episode in males, and depression is the first in females. The manic phase is characterized by feelings of euphoria, decreased need for sleep, poor judgment and insight, reckless or irresponsible behavior, aggressiveness, poor concentration, and increased energy. The depressive phase is characterized by intense feelings of sadness or hopelessness, disturbances in sleep and appetite, exhaustion, irritability, and recurring thoughts of suicide.
There are three stages of mania that starts with hypomania. During the hypomania stage, the bipolar patients say that they are vigorous, and self-assured. The hypomania state seems as though the patients are ?addicted? to their mania. The second stage to mania is shown by a loss of judgment and an irritable mood. The third stage is obvious when the patient experiences delusions and behavior becomes hyperactive. Sometimes this behavior is associated with aggression.
Typically, bipolar individuals experience between eight to ten manic-depressive episodes in their lifetime. As the individual ages, it is reported that, the depressive phase becomes longer and increases in incidence....
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