Definition of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorders are illnesses included in the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.). text revision (DSM-IV-TR) (APA, 2000). A person who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder experiences symptoms of major depression at times and at other times experiences symptoms of mania.Clients who have bipolar disorder experience extreme changes in mood, energy, and behavior. They alternate, or switch, between two opposite emotions. (Bi means “two” and polar means “opposite.”) Their mood repeatedly alternates from extremely happy, or high, to sad and hopeless. In between the extremes, their mood might be calm. They cannot control their mood changes.
Incident of bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder occurs at about the same rate in men and women and affects between 0.4% and 1.6% of the population (APA, 2000). Research indicates a genetic component to bipolar disorder and an increased incidence of major depressive disorder (APA, 2000). Clients often manifest or have a family history of alcoholism or other substance abuse. Substance abuse may be an attempt to self medicate, or the client may have a dual diagnosis (bipolar disorder and substance abuse); each disorder requires treatment. Bipolar disorder is also associated with eating disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and anxiety disorders (APA, 2000).
The average age of the first manic episode in bipolar disorder is 20 years old. Manic and depressive episodes are recurrent in most clients; periods between episodes are characterized by significantly reduced symptoms, but some symptoms can cause chronic problems in the client’s life (APA, 2000).
Client with bipolar disorder also are at high risk for suicide: 10% to 15% of these clients successfully commit suicide (APA, 2000).
A large number of people experience signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder for several years before being accurately diagnosed due to usually seeking treatment for symptoms of depression.
