Bipolar disorder in America: Exploring the causes and treatment
bipolar disorder, a mental health condition affecting approximately 4.4% of U.S. adults, translating to around 11.3 million individuals, as reported by The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Bipolar disorder, often misunderstood, exerts a substantial influence on various aspects of life, including lifestyle, livelihood, relationships, and day-to-day activities.
What is bipolar disorder?
Formerly known as manic depression, bipolar disorder is defined by the NIMH as a mental illness causing shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and concentration.
Rwenshaun Miller, a mental health professional, characterizes it as having «high highs and low lows,» significantly impacting daily functioning.
Types of bipolar disorder
The disorder manifests in three types, each varying in severity. Bipolar I disorder, the most severe, involves manic episodes lasting at least 7 days, necessitating immediate medical attention.
Bipolar II disorder is similar but features less severe manic episodes termed hypomanic episodes. Cyclothymic disorder involves episodes even less intense, not lasting long enough to qualify as hypomanic or depressive.
Diagnosing
With no specific tests available, the diagnosis is based on symptoms and a medical work-up.
Robert Beech, MD, PhD, a psychiatrist at Yale School of Medicine, underscores the challenge of pinpointing exact causes but suggests a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Exploring Causes
Beech explains that chemical imbalances in the brain may contribute to bipolar disorder, with a genetic link. If one parent has the disorder, the child's risk is about 10%, increasing to 40% if both parents are affected.
