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Bipolar Disorder Treatment in Coimbatore
Bipolar Disorder Treatment
Bipolar disorder (not to be confused with borderline personality disorder), is one of the commonest mental disorders. It is also called manic depression. Severe mood shifts, depression, elevated anxiety, and erratic behaviour can be observed in people suffering from bipolar disorder. Over 10 million people in India suffer from bipolar disorder. When a patient suffers from elevated mood and heightened anxiety, the state of that person can be described as mania. A person with bipolar disorder can go through severe depression also known as manic depression.
- Types
- SYMPTOMS
- Causes
- TREATMENT
Different types of bipolar disorder result in different behavioural symptoms and require different approaches to treatment:
- Bipolar I –Series of recurrent manic episodes followed by dreadful depression occurs from time to time. There isn’t any certainty to the patterns of occurrence in these episodes.
- Bipolar II –A long period of recurrent hypomania and severe depression occurs in people with Bipolar II. This time period of manic depression lasts for 2-4 weeks. The episodes of hypomania are lighter in Bipolar II than in Bipolar I.
- Mixed feature-This type occurs when a person goes through extreme anxiety as well as awful depression at the same time.
- Cyclothymic Disorder – During this type a person goes through mild hypomania along with brief symptoms of depression. The episodes are absent or very mild.
- Rapid-Cycle- Long lasting episodes of bipolar disorder that lasts for a year with brief recurrent episodes from time to time.
Symptoms of bipolar disorder are sometimes difficult to note because they align with symptoms of other mental health issues like BPD and depression. Recurrent symptoms that indicate bipolar disorder are:
- Low attention span- People with bipolar disorder, especially children, find it very difficult to focus on studies and work at hand. Low attention span affects their personal as well as professional life.
- Hyperactivity- Heightened activity, feeling of euphoria and elevated mood swings are common in people with bipolar disorder.
- Depression- Low mood, lethargy, unresponsiveness, loss of appetite, and loss of communication are some signs people with bipolar disorder expresses.
There are three broad causes of bipolar disorder:
- Genetics- People sharing relatives and parents with bipolar disorder, have a chance of expressing the mental disorder six times more than an individual without a family history of bipolar disease.
- Neurotransmitters- Low secretion of serotonin and dopamine can result in bipolar disorder.
- Environmental- People who has been through past trauma may show signs of bipolar disorder. Harbouring extreme stress and prolonged physical pain might cause bipolar disorder as well.
- Physical tests and scans- Sometimes using substances can lead to symptoms that are very similar to bipolar disorder. Doctors perform a series of scans and tests to rule out the possibility of substance use.
- Psychological evaluation - Psychiatrists or psychologists make the patients perform some mental exercises. As the symptoms of bipolar disorder align with borderline personality disorder and ADHD, it is important for doctors to be determined about the disorder.
Diagnosis
There are two broad approaches of treatment of bipolar disorder:
- Psychotherapy- Cognitive behavioural therapies have been effective, when it comes to aiding people with bipolar disorder. The therapy includes mental exercises and talk therapy with medical professionals. Understanding the nature of disorder and confronting one’s belief helps patients to cope up.
- Medicine- Doctors may prescribe medications to patients expressing bipolar disorder. These medications are usually used to stimulate the neurotransmitter release in the brain. Mood stabilizers like lithium and antipsychotics like olanzapine are commonly prescribed by doctors. Medication is generally prescribed to patients after long term observation and analysis.
Dr. Syed Ummar
Consultant Psychiatrist
1 in 6 people are thought to suffer with an bipolar disorder at any one time
Dr Syed Ummar is an experienced and highly empathetic Psychiatrist in coimbatore who works with young people and adults with often complex mental health problems. he bases many of his interventions on the cognitive behavioural approach.
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