Bipolar Disorder

25 posts

Highly Recurrent Major Depression

Highly recurrent major depression, especially if onset is early in life, tends to do better on mood stabilizers than antidepressants. These people tend to have more frequent and severe episodes, have a positive family history for Bipolar, and not do well on antidepressants. They are probably genetically related to someone […]

Subtypes of Bipolar Disorder

DYSPHORIC MANIA AND MIXED STATES – It is possible to have the symptoms of major depression and mania at the same time. This is called a mixed, or dysphoric state. It is estimated that 31% of patients presenting with mania have a mixed state. It is characterized by distinct periods […]

Bipolar Disorder: Did You Know?

70% of persons with two bipolar parents will be bipolar Untreated bipolar disorder will worsen over time becoming more frequent and severe Bipolar often begins with depression Antidepressants can induce a manic response in a person that is bipolar Bipolar is a serious disorder with a 15% rate of suicide […]

Depression or Bipolar Disorder?

Fred Goodwin, M.D., an expert on bipolar disorder, cautions that antidepressants can trigger symptoms of bipolar disorder in a person that has never had symptoms in the past. What does this mean? When an individual goes to the doctor suffering from symptoms of depression the genes could be present for […]

Bipolar Disorder Overview

The spectrum of bipolar disorders is characterized by mood instability and impulsivity. About 1% (2 million) of the population is bipolar I. Bipolar has multiple forms. It ranges in severity from mildly disruptive to life destroying. As in other medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, the vulnerability to bipolar […]

Medical Management of Bipolar Disorder

Mood stabilizing medications treat depression and mania: Anticonvulsants Depakote* Lamictal** Tegretol Trileptal Gabitril Topamax Keppra Atypical Antipsychotics Zyprexa* ** Risperdal* **** Seroquel* Geodon* Clozaril Abilify* Other Options Lithium* ** Thyroid Symbyax*** FDA approval for: *Mania **Maintenance (Stabilization) ***Bipolar depression ****Mixed episodes