What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder, which is also known as manic-depressive disorder, is a mental illness that causes extreme mood swings. These mood swings consist of emotional highs (manic or hypomanic episodes) and lows (depressive episodes). There are three main types of bipolar disorder: bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymic disorder. People with bipolar disorder often experience decreased quality of life and overall functioning. Among all mental illnesses, bipolar disorder has the highest suicide rate.[1][2][3]
What are the main signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder?
People with bipolar I experience manic episodes. Common symptoms during manic episodes – which last ≥1 week – include an unusual increase in self-esteem, a decreased need for sleep, feeling unusually important, racing thoughts, increased energy, and risky behaviors (spending too much money, reckless driving, etc.).
People with bipolar II experience hypomanic episodes, which are milder symptoms of mania.
People with bipolar I and II experience depressive episodes. Common symptoms during depressive episodes – which last ≥2 weeks – include feeling sad or hopeless, losing interest in previously enjoyable activities, increased or decreased appetite, excessive fatigue, and suicidal thoughts.
There may also be mixed episodes where both manic and depressive symptoms co-occur.
People with cyclothymic disorder experience symptoms of both hypomanic and depressive episodes, but don’t meet the criteria for these episodes. [4][3]
How is bipolar disorder diagnosed?
A thorough evaluation by a mental health provider is required to identify bipolar disorder. Two commonly-used sets of diagnostic criteria are those in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association, and the International Classification of Disease (ICD), published by the World Health Organization.
What are some of the main medical treatments for bipolar disorder?
Treatment focuses on managing acute episodes (manic, hypomanic, and depressive) and on providing maintenance care to prevent acute episodes from recurring. A combination of medication and psychotherapy is often used.
Medications such as mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and antidepressants are commonly used. However, antidepressants should not be used in people with a history of rapid cycling (≥4 acute episodes within a year).[4][5]
Have any supplements been studied for bipolar disorder?
Fish oil and N-Acetyl-Cysteine seem to be particularly helpful for depressive episodes.[6][7] Coenzyme Q10, Folic acid, zinc, and probiotics also show some promise for treating bipolar disorder.[7]
Are there any other treatments for bipolar disorder?
Numerous psychotherapy modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy, family-focused therapy, interpersonal social rhythm therapy, and mindfulness, may be helpful in addition to medication. However, the form of psychotherapy chosen should be specific to the individual's unique needs.[8][5]
People with bipolar disorder may also benefit from neuromodulation treatments such as Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) or repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS). Although electroconvulsive therapy has shown to be an effective treatment, there is limited research on using rTMS.[9]
Bright light therapy can also help reduce symptoms of depression in people with bipolar disorder.[10]
How could diet affect bipolar disorder?
According to observational studies, people with bipolar disorder are less likely to follow a Mediterranean dietary pattern and tend to consume less seafood. Some studies also found that diets rich in essential fatty acids correlate with improved symptoms of bipolar disorder. Because most of the research is observational, more rigorous studies are required to assess the relationship between diet and bipolar disorder.[7]
What causes bipolar disorder?
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown. It does, however, appear to be influenced by psychosocial, genetic, and biological factors.[2]
Examine Database: Bipolar Disorder
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Frequently asked questions
Bipolar disorder, which is also known as manic-depressive disorder, is a mental illness that causes extreme mood swings. These mood swings consist of emotional highs (manic or hypomanic episodes) and lows (depressive episodes). There are three main types of bipolar disorder: bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymic disorder. People with bipolar disorder often experience decreased quality of life and overall functioning. Among all mental illnesses, bipolar disorder has the highest suicide rate.[1][2][3]
Bipolar I is characterized by manic episodes lasting about seven days, followed by depressive episodes lasting about 2 weeks. A manic episode is considered a medical emergency and requires immediate medical care as it can cause significant functional impairment and put people at risk of dangerous behaviors.
Bipolar II is characterized by hypomanic episodes (a less severe form of manic episodes) lasting about four days, followed by depressive episodes that last about 2 weeks. People who experience hypomanic episodes can continue to function during the day and can be treated in outpatient settings.
Cyclothymic disorder is characterized by symptoms of hypomania and depressive episodes over two years. Cyclothymic disorder patients also experience emotional highs and lows, but they are shorter and less severe.[4]
People with bipolar I experience manic episodes. Common symptoms during manic episodes – which last ≥1 week – include an unusual increase in self-esteem, a decreased need for sleep, feeling unusually important, racing thoughts, increased energy, and risky behaviors (spending too much money, reckless driving, etc.).
People with bipolar II experience hypomanic episodes, which are milder symptoms of mania.
People with bipolar I and II experience depressive episodes. Common symptoms during depressive episodes – which last ≥2 weeks – include feeling sad or hopeless, losing interest in previously enjoyable activities, increased or decreased appetite, excessive fatigue, and suicidal thoughts.
There may also be mixed episodes where both manic and depressive symptoms co-occur.
People with cyclothymic disorder experience symptoms of both hypomanic and depressive episodes, but don’t meet the criteria for these episodes. [4][3]
It is essential to take note of how often acute episodes (manic, hypomanic, or depressive) occur. Rapid cycling is when a person with bipolar disorder experiences ≥ 4 acute episodes within a year. Medications used to treat bipolar disorder are less effective in people with rapid cycling.[11] Furthermore, antidepressants can trigger or worsen rapid cycling.[4]
A thorough evaluation by a mental health provider is required to identify bipolar disorder. Two commonly-used sets of diagnostic criteria are those in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association, and the International Classification of Disease (ICD), published by the World Health Organization.
Treatment focuses on managing acute episodes (manic, hypomanic, and depressive) and on providing maintenance care to prevent acute episodes from recurring. A combination of medication and psychotherapy is often used.
Medications such as mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and antidepressants are commonly used. However, antidepressants should not be used in people with a history of rapid cycling (≥4 acute episodes within a year).[4][5]
Fish oil and N-Acetyl-Cysteine seem to be particularly helpful for depressive episodes.[6][7] Coenzyme Q10, Folic acid, zinc, and probiotics also show some promise for treating bipolar disorder.[7]
Numerous psychotherapy modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy, family-focused therapy, interpersonal social rhythm therapy, and mindfulness, may be helpful in addition to medication. However, the form of psychotherapy chosen should be specific to the individual's unique needs.[8][5]
People with bipolar disorder may also benefit from neuromodulation treatments such as Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) or repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS). Although electroconvulsive therapy has shown to be an effective treatment, there is limited research on using rTMS.[9]
Bright light therapy can also help reduce symptoms of depression in people with bipolar disorder.[10]
According to observational studies, people with bipolar disorder are less likely to follow a Mediterranean dietary pattern and tend to consume less seafood. Some studies also found that diets rich in essential fatty acids correlate with improved symptoms of bipolar disorder. Because most of the research is observational, more rigorous studies are required to assess the relationship between diet and bipolar disorder.[7]
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown. It does, however, appear to be influenced by psychosocial, genetic, and biological factors.[2]
References
Examine Database References
- Bipolar Disorder Symptoms - Chengappa KN, Bowie CR, Schlicht PJ, Fleet D, Brar JS, Jindal RRandomized placebo-controlled adjunctive study of an extract of withania somnifera for cognitive dysfunction in bipolar disorderJ Clin Psychiatry.(2013 Nov)
- Bipolar Disorder Symptoms - Frangou S, Lewis M, McCrone PEfficacy of ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid in bipolar depression: randomised double-blind placebo-controlled studyBr J Psychiatry.(2006 Jan)
- Bipolar Disorder Symptoms - Keck PE Jr, Mintz J, McElroy SL, Freeman MP, Suppes T, Frye MA, Altshuler LL, Kupka R, Nolen WA, Leverich GS, Denicoff KD, Grunze H, Duan N, Post RMDouble-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of ethyl-eicosapentanoate in the treatment of bipolar depression and rapid cycling bipolar disorderBiol Psychiatry.(2006 Nov 1)
- Bipolar Disorder Symptoms - Hirashima F, Parow AM, Stoll AL, Demopulos CM, Damico KE, Rohan ML, Eskesen JG, Zuo CS, Cohen BM, Renshaw PFOmega-3 fatty acid treatment and T(2) whole brain relaxation times in bipolar disorderAm J Psychiatry.(2004 Oct)
- Bipolar Disorder Symptoms - Murphy BL, Stoll AL, Harris PQ, Ravichandran C, Babb SM, Carlezon WA Jr, Cohen BMOmega-3 fatty acid treatment, with or without cytidine, fails to show therapeutic properties in bipolar disorder: a double-blind, randomized add-on clinical trialJ Clin Psychopharmacol.(2012 Oct)
- Bipolar Disorder Symptoms - Stoll AL, Severus WE, Freeman MP, Rueter S, Zboyan HA, Diamond E, Cress KK, Marangell LBOmega 3 fatty acids in bipolar disorder: a preliminary double-blind, placebo-controlled trialArch Gen Psychiatry.(1999 May)
- Bipolar Disorder Symptoms - Amann BL, Mergl R, Vieta E, Born C, Hermisson I, Seemueller F, Dittmann S, Grunze HA 2-year, open-label pilot study of adjunctive chromium in patients with treatment-resistant rapid-cycling bipolar disorderJ Clin Psychopharmacol.(2007 Feb)
- Bipolar Disorder Symptoms - Chengappa KN, Levine J, Gershon S, Mallinger AG, Hardan A, Vagnucci A, Pollock B, Luther J, Buttenfield J, Verfaille S, Kupfer DJInositol as an add-on treatment for bipolar depressionBipolar Disord.(2000 Mar)
- Bipolar Disorder Symptoms - Brown ES, Gorman AR, Hynan LSA randomized, placebo-controlled trial of citicoline add-on therapy in outpatients with bipolar disorder and cocaine dependenceJ Clin Psychopharmacol.(2007 Oct)
- Bipolar Disorder Symptoms - Douglas G. Kondo, M.D, Young-Hoon Sung, M.D, Tracy L. Hellem, B.S, Kristen K. Delmastro, B.S, Eun-Kee Jeong, Ph.D, Namkug Kim, Ph.D, Xianfeng Shi, Ph.D, and Perry F. RenshawOpen-Label Uridine for Treatment of Depressed Adolescents with Bipolar DisorderJournal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.()
- Depression Symptoms - Mehrpooya M, Yasrebifar F, Haghighi M, Mohammadi Y, Jahangard LEvaluating the Effect of Coenzyme Q10 Augmentation on Treatment of Bipolar Depression: A Double-Blind Controlled Clinical TrialJ Clin Psychopharmacol.(2018 Oct)
- Oxidative Stress Biomarkers - Jahangard L, Yasrebifar F, Haghighi M, Ranjbar A, Mehrpooya MInfluence of adjuvant Coenzyme Q10 on inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with bipolar disorders during the depressive episodeMol Biol Rep.(2019 Oct)
- Depression Symptoms - Nery FG, Li W, DelBello MP, Welge JAN-acetylcysteine as an adjunctive treatment for bipolar depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Bipolar Disord.(2021-11)