View source for Bipolar disorder

[[File:Georg Cantor2.jpg|thumb|[[Georg Cantor]], a famous 19th century mathematician suffered from [[Depression (mental illness)|depression]], from 1884 to the end of his life.<ref name="daub280">[[Bipolar disorder#Dauben1979|Dauben 1979]], p. 280: "...the tradition made popular by [[Arthur Moritz Schönflies]] blamed Kronecker's persistent criticism and Cantor's inability to confirm his continuum hypothesis" for Cantor's recurring bouts of depression.</ref> Some people have suggested these problems may have been episodes of bipolar disorder.<ref name="bipolar">[[#Dauben2004|Dauben 2004]], p. 1. Text includes a 1964 quote from psychiatrist Karl Pollitt, one of Cantor's examining physicians at Halle Nervenklinik, referring to Cantor's [[mental illness]] as "cyclic manic-depression".</ref>]]
'''Bipolar disorder '''(also known as manic depression) is a [[mental illness]] where a person will have repeated, long-lasting feelings (episodes) of high ([[mania]]) and low mood ([[Depression (mood)|depression]]). It may occur with or without cycles of normal mood, called [[euthymia]]. A mixed episode occurs when both mania and depression are present at the same time. People with bipolar disorder experience the whole spectrum of emotional feelings from unimaginable grief to full blown euphoria whereas normal people experience only a section of the spectrum of emotional feelings somewhere between extreme grief and extreme happiness.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bipolar Disorder|url=https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder|access-date=2023-07-29|website=National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)|language=en}}</ref>

== Symptoms ==
"Bipolar" literally means "two poles" or two extremes in how much energy the brain has. Sometimes, a person can experience something called [[mania]]. Mania is when a person's brain goes into a high-energy state. When in a high-energy state, mania can cause extreme emotions such as [[panic attack]]s or extreme happiness such as [[euphoria]]. This feeling is often followed by a period of [[Depression (mental illness)|depression]], which is a low-energy state. A person who is depressed may act sad or hopeless. People with bipolar disorder switch between these two states.<ref>Beentjes TA, Goossens PJ, Poslawsky IE (October 2012). "Caregiver burden in bipolar hypomania and mania: a systematic review". Perspect Psychiatr Care 48 (4): 187–97. doi:10.1111/j.1744-6163.2012.00328.x. <nowiki>PMID 23005586</nowiki>.</ref>

=== Mania ===
People who are in a manic state are often over-confident and very [[optimistic]]. This can cause them to take large risks and do things that are not normal for them to do. Manic episodes last for at least a week, but can last as long as three to six months. They are usually followed by a depressive episode. A person who is manic may talk very quickly with no pauses, have thoughts that change very quickly, or act without thinking. They may also experience [[psychosis]], where they cannot tell what is real and what is not. They may think that they are unstoppable or that they are on a mission for [[God]].<ref>Knowles R, McCarthy-Jones S, Rowse G (June 2011). "Grandiose delusions: a review and theoretical integration of cognitive and affective perspectives". Clin Psychol Rev 31 (4): 684–96. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2011.02.009. <nowiki>PMID 21482326</nowiki>.</ref> Mania may become so severe that it can affect the person’s ability to work or interact with others. Every person is different, so it is important to remember that these things do not happen to all people with bipolar disorder.

=== Hypomania ===
Hypomania is a less extreme version of mania. Someone who is hypomanic will have [[symptom]]s similar to mania. They may have increased energy and may deny that anything is wrong. A hypomanic episode may last from a few days to a few months.<ref>"Bipolar II Disorder Symptoms and Signs". Web M.D. Retrieved December 6, 2010.</ref>

=== Depression ===
People who are in a depressive state are often sad and [[pessimistic]]. They may lose interest in activities they usually like, or become isolated and lonely. Other symptoms include [[anxiety]], hopelessness, changes in sleep, and [[Suicide|suicidal]] thoughts.<ref>Muneer A (June 2013). "Treatment of the depressive phase of bipolar affective disorder: a review". J Pak Med Assoc 63 (6): 763–9. <nowiki>PMID 23901682</nowiki>.</ref> A depressive episode can last from a few weeks to several months. When bipolar disorder develops at a young age, the first few episodes are usually depressive. Because a manic or hypomanic episode is needed to [[Diagnosis|diagnose]] bipolar disorder, some people are diagnosed with [[Depression (mental illness)|major depression]] at first.

== Diagnosis ==
Bipolar disorder is an illness that can show in different ways. It is often diagnosed in adolescents or young adults. A few subtypes have been identified; these subtypes mostly describe the nature of the "episodes" of the disease:
*''Bipolar I disorder'': A person with bipolar I has had at least one manic episode. Depressive episodes also occur in people with bipolar I, but are not required for a diagnosis. 
*''Bipolar II disorder'': A person with bipolar II has had no manic episodes, but at least one hypomanic episode. They have also had at least one major depressive episode.
*''[[Cyclothymia]]'': A person with cyclothymia has had both hypomanic and feelings of depression. These feelings of depression are not extreme enough to be considered a depressive episode.

== Causes ==
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown. It is estimated that there is a 71 percent chance of bipolar disorder passing from parent to child.<ref>Edvardsen J, Torgersen S, Røysamb E, Lygren S, Skre I, Onstad S, Oien PA (2008). "Heritability of bipolar spectrum disorders. Unity or heterogeneity?". Journal of Affective Disorders 106 (3): 229–240. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2007.07.001. <nowiki>PMID 17692389</nowiki>.</ref> If one identical twin has bipolar disorder, there is a 40 to 70 percent chance that the other will develop bipolar disorder in their lifetime. [[Magnetic resonance imaging|MRI]] studies have shown that certain parts of the brain responsible for mood [[regulation]] are larger in bipolar patients. It is also possible for bipolar disorder to develop after a [[stroke]], [[brain injury]], or certain [[infection]]s.<ref>Murray ED, Buttner N, Price BH. (2012) Depression and Psychosis in Neurological Practice. In: Neurology in Clinical Practice, 6th Edition. Bradley WG, Daroff RB, Fenichel GM, Jankovic J (eds.) Butterworth Heinemann. April 12, 2012. {{ISBN|1-4377-0434-4}} | {{ISBN|978-1-4377-0434-1}}</ref>Bipolar disorder can also be triggered due to certain environmental factors such as undergoing stressful events, overwhelming problems of everyday life, certain medications or recreational drugs.<ref>{{Cite web|last=modalert_new|date=2023-10-27|title=Bipolar Disorder|url=https://learnthedosage.com/bipolar-disorder/|access-date=2023-12-05|website=Welcome|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Treatment ==
[[File:Light Therapy Lamp.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Light therapy]] is one of several approaches to treating bipolar disorder.]]
Like most mental illnesses, there are ways to treat bipolar disorder. The most common way to treat bipolar disorder is by using [[medication]]s called [[mood stabilizer]]s. These medicines prevent and control the manic and depressive episodes. One of the most common mood stabilizers is [[lithium]].<ref>Brown KM, Tracy DK (June 2013). "Lithium: the pharmacodynamic actions of the amazing ion". Ther Adv Psychopharmacol 3 (3): 163–76. doi:10.1177/2045125312471963. PMC 3805456. <nowiki>PMID 24167688</nowiki>.</ref> [[Therapy]] can also be used to control the symptoms. The same treatments and medicines do not work for everyone, and it is not uncommon for people to have symptoms return if they stop taking medication. Things like this can make bipolar disorder a difficult illness to live with, but educating patients about it makes it easier. Sometimes, people need to be treated against their will. Patients may be thinking about or have tried to commit [[suicide]], or they may be unable to see their situation properly. In many cases, teaching people about their disease helps. When they have gone through the phases of the illness a few times, they often see that treatment can make their life easier.

==Further reading==
*[[Genetics]] links between five major psychiatric disorders: [[autism]], [[ADHD]], bipolar disorder, [[depression (mood)|depression]], and [[schizophrenia]] per recent study.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/5266/20130228/five-very-different-major-psych-disorders-shared-genetics.htm|title=Five Very Different and Major Psych Disorders Have Shared Genetics|first=Science World|last=Report|date=28 February 2013|website=Science World Report}}</ref>[[doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61345-8]]
*[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/01/health/study-finds-genetic-risk-factors-shared-by-5-psychiatric-disorders.html ''5 Disorders Share Genetic Risk Factors, Study Finds''] February 28, 2013 [[The New York Times]]
*[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323293704578330281399629600.html ''Psychiatric Disorders Linked Genetically''] February 27, 2013 [[WSJ]]

==References==
<references />
* {{Citation |surname=Dauben|given= Joseph W.|year=1979|title=Georg Cantor: his mathematics and philosophy of the infinite|place=Boston|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=978-0-691-02447-9|ref=Dauben1979}}.
* {{Citation|surname=Dauben|given=Joseph|year=1993|chapter-url=http://www.acmsonline.org/journal/2004/Dauben93.htm|chapter=Georg Cantor and the Battle for Transfinite Set Theory|title=Proceedings of the 9th ACMS Conference (Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA)|pages=1–22|ref=Dauben2004|accessdate=2013-05-01|archive-date=2015-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108022603/http://www.acmsonline.org/journal/2004/Dauben93.htm|url-status=dead}}. Internet version published in Journal of the ACMS 2004.

== Other websites ==
* [http://www.bipolart.de BipolArt] - Proof that a high proportion of bipolar people are creative. A fantastic collection of drawings, paintings, inkings, photographs, music, etc. by artists who share this illness.
* [http://www.allpsych.com Allpsych]

[[Category:Bipolar disorder]]