Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder characterized by periods of elevated in mood and depression. This is also known as maniac- depressive illness because the patient is characterized by both mania and depression. This bipolar disorder is mainly observed due to changes in excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters secretions. During this that patient will be abnormally active, irritable or energetic (mania) and also feels like depressed and always thinks negatively (depression).

Causes: The causes vary from individuals and they maybe Genetic, Physiological, Environmental, Neurological, Neuroendocrinological and Evolutionary. Symptoms: The major signs and symptoms of this disorder can be categorized into various episodes like maniac episodes, Hypomanic episodes, Depressive episodes, Mixed effective episodes.

Treatment: This can be treated be a number of pharmacological and psychotherapeutic techniques. Physicians advice is most preferred.

NARSAD, the Mental Health Research Association state that: More than 2 million American adults or 1 percent of the population age 18 or older in any given year have bipolar disorder.  A 2005 US community epidemiological study (the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions), estimated the lifetime risk of bipolar I and bipolar II as ranging from 3-10%. And according to the latest bipolar statistics quoted by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA): ""Bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million adult Americans, or about 2.6% of the U.S. population age 18 and older every year."" (National Institute of Mental Health). According to Dr Wes Burgess in his book, The Bipolar Handbook: Real-Life Questions with Up-to-Date Answers, Penguin 2006: ""It is estimated that 2 to 7% of people in the United States suffer from bipolar disorder. Almost 10 million people will develop the illness sometimes during their lives. About half of these will never receive the correct diagnosis or treatment."" IN OTHER WORDS - You are not alone! Bipolar disorder statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), indicate bipolar disorder is the 6th leading cause of disability in the world. - In Australia there are around 238,957 people with bipolar disorder. - In the United Kingdom it is approximately 723,248 people. - In Germany, around 989,095 people have bipolar disorder. - In Canada, bipolar disorder affects around 390,094 people. - In Iran, bipolar disorder affects around 810,038 people. And for both India and China, each have somewhere between 12 - 15 million people who are bipolar."