Elizabeth WattersonElizabeth Watterson

Honors Intro to PsychologyHonors Intro to Psychology

Final ProjectFinal Project

Brief DefinitionBrief Definition

Sometimes considered the same as manic Sometimes considered the same as manic depressiondepression

Bipolar means that your moods swing back and Bipolar means that your moods swing back and forth between 2 opposite emotional statesforth between 2 opposite emotional states

- you experience periods of major depression in - you experience periods of major depression in which you feel sad, lonely, weak, and helplesswhich you feel sad, lonely, weak, and helpless

- other times you may have manic periods in which - other times you may have manic periods in which you feel incredibly energetic and confident and you feel incredibly energetic and confident and experience extreme sensations of anger, irritation experience extreme sensations of anger, irritation or happinessor happiness

ExampleExample

- - Mood goes from low and despairing Mood goes from low and despairing (depressed phase) to elated and (depressed phase) to elated and hypersensitive (manic phase) and then hypersensitive (manic phase) and then back to low and despairing.back to low and despairing.

- Phases are radically different and often - Phases are radically different and often interspersed with seemingly “normal” interspersed with seemingly “normal” periods, making bipolar disorder difficult to periods, making bipolar disorder difficult to diagnosediagnose

Other FactsOther Facts

Frequently when Bipolar Frequently when Bipolar Disorder first appears, both the Disorder first appears, both the manic and depressive phases manic and depressive phases might be somewhat mildmight be somewhat mild

Big clue of Bipolar Depression: Big clue of Bipolar Depression: You start behaving You start behaving hyperactively or as if you have hyperactively or as if you have too much energytoo much energy

According to statistics, 2 out of According to statistics, 2 out of 3 times doctors fail to initially 3 times doctors fail to initially recognize symptoms of Bipolar recognize symptoms of Bipolar DisorderDisorder

When manic depressives are in When manic depressives are in a milder manic phase- full of a milder manic phase- full of happiness, energy, and happiness, energy, and confidence- they and those confidence- they and those around them never stop to around them never stop to think that anything is wrongthink that anything is wrong

According to the DSM-IV, 60% According to the DSM-IV, 60% to 70% of Manic Episodes occur to 70% of Manic Episodes occur immediately before or after a immediately before or after a Major Depressive episodeMajor Depressive episode

Studies on the course of Bipolar Studies on the course of Bipolar Disorder prior to lithium Disorder prior to lithium treatment suggest that, on treatment suggest that, on average, 4 episodes occur in 10 average, 4 episodes occur in 10 yearsyears

A small percentage of people A small percentage of people with bipolar disorder undergo with bipolar disorder undergo as many as 4 or more mood as many as 4 or more mood episodes in a year- called episodes in a year- called “rapid cycling”“rapid cycling”

The interval between episodes The interval between episodes tends to decrease as the tends to decrease as the individual agesindividual ages

DepressionDepression

Depression is a disease that can get Depression is a disease that can get worse if left untreated by a professionalworse if left untreated by a professional

It affects your emotional state, leaving It affects your emotional state, leaving you exhausted or panicky, teary or you exhausted or panicky, teary or desperatedesperate

Also affects your physical well-being, Also affects your physical well-being, leaving you tired, with headaches, leaving you tired, with headaches, stomachaches, shaking and/or fidgetingstomachaches, shaking and/or fidgeting

Depression StatisticsDepression Statistics

According to the According to the American American Psychiatric Psychiatric Association, one out Association, one out of every five of every five Americans will Americans will experience experience depression during depression during his or her lifetimehis or her lifetime

According to the According to the National Institute of National Institute of Mental Health, of Mental Health, of the 18 million the 18 million Americans who are Americans who are depressed, up to an depressed, up to an estimated 2 million estimated 2 million are teenagersare teenagers

ManiaMania

Mania is a state of Mania is a state of high, unnatural high, unnatural excitementexcitement

In a manic phase, In a manic phase, you tend to become you tend to become hyperactive, hyperactive, overflowing with overflowing with nonstop energy- so nonstop energy- so much energy which much energy which can leave you feeling can leave you feeling worried or anxiousworried or anxious

It can lead to panic It can lead to panic attacks, during attacks, during which you become which you become immobilized immobilized because you fear because you fear anything and anything and everythingeverything

Sometimes an Sometimes an episode can make episode can make you obsessiveyou obsessive

Manic DepressionManic Depression

The cycles of mania The cycles of mania and depression are and depression are unpredictable and can unpredictable and can last for very different last for very different lengths of timelengths of time

You can experience You can experience mania and depression mania and depression at the same timeat the same time

Most people with Most people with bipolar depression bipolar depression have extreme cycles have extreme cycles only once every few only once every few yearsyears

Some manic Some manic depressives may go for depressives may go for weeks, months, even weeks, months, even years without years without experiencing any experiencing any extreme ups and extreme ups and downsdowns-instead they have -instead they have normal moods like normal moods like everyone else, this is everyone else, this is called euthymiacalled euthymia

Who Gets Bipolar Disorder?Who Gets Bipolar Disorder? It is often a hereditary It is often a hereditary

diseasedisease It more frequently It more frequently

appears in young appears in young adults and continues adults and continues throughout lifethroughout life

A person’s race and A person’s race and national origin have national origin have nothing to do with the nothing to do with the occurrence of Bipolar occurrence of Bipolar Disorder Disorder

It is equally common It is equally common in men and womenin men and women

The first episode in The first episode in males is likely to be a males is likely to be a Manic episode, in Manic episode, in females it is likely to females it is likely to be a Major Depressive be a Major Depressive episodeepisode

It is a recurrent It is a recurrent disorder- more than disorder- more than 90% of individuals 90% of individuals who have a single who have a single Manic episode go on Manic episode go on to have future to have future episodesepisodes

What causes Bipolar Disorder?What causes Bipolar Disorder?

Biochemical FactorsBiochemical Factors

Genetic FactorsGenetic Factors

Environmental FactorsEnvironmental Factors

Psychological FactorsPsychological Factors

Biochemical FactorsBiochemical Factors

Mania- too many neurotransmitters being Mania- too many neurotransmitters being produced in the brainproduced in the brain

Depression- too few neurotransmitters being Depression- too few neurotransmitters being producedproduced

Such excesses or deficiencies upset the Such excesses or deficiencies upset the communication between your brain and communication between your brain and your bodyyour body

Often, once an imbalance is detected, Often, once an imbalance is detected, doctors are able to readjust levels with the doctors are able to readjust levels with the use of medicineuse of medicine

Genetic FactorsGenetic Factors

Inherited genes can make you more Inherited genes can make you more susceptible to manic depressionsusceptible to manic depression

According to the DSM-IV, first-degree According to the DSM-IV, first-degree biological relatives of individuals with biological relatives of individuals with Bipolar Depression have elevated Bipolar Depression have elevated rates of Bipolar Disorder (4%- 24%)rates of Bipolar Disorder (4%- 24%)

-this is proven through twin and -this is proven through twin and adoption studiesadoption studies

Environmental FactorsEnvironmental Factors There are some aspects of your environment There are some aspects of your environment

that you have no control over, therefore it is that you have no control over, therefore it is easy to feel overwhelmed and anxiouseasy to feel overwhelmed and anxious

When under pressure, your body produces When under pressure, your body produces increased amounts of certain hormones- when increased amounts of certain hormones- when you are anxious or afraid, you will have excess you are anxious or afraid, you will have excess amounts of a stress hormone called Cortisolamounts of a stress hormone called Cortisol

If these high levels stay in your body for a long If these high levels stay in your body for a long time, they can have an effect on both your time, they can have an effect on both your brain and your nerve cellsbrain and your nerve cells-these changes can lead to serious depression-these changes can lead to serious depression

Psychological FactorsPsychological Factors

Your attitude can affect the way that a Your attitude can affect the way that a depressive illness affects youdepressive illness affects you

Example: If you tend to look at things Example: If you tend to look at things negatively, if you lack self-confidence, and if negatively, if you lack self-confidence, and if you worry too much and find it difficult to you worry too much and find it difficult to talk about problems, you will be less able to talk about problems, you will be less able to deal with the mood swings you are deal with the mood swings you are experiencing, therefore you also have a experiencing, therefore you also have a stronger chance of becoming seriously stronger chance of becoming seriously depresseddepressed

Effects of Bipolar DisorderEffects of Bipolar Disorder

It can cause you to It can cause you to experience certain experience certain sensations and to sensations and to behave or act in certain behave or act in certain waysways

Some of the sensations Some of the sensations and reactions are and reactions are common to all kinds of common to all kinds of depressive disorders, depressive disorders, but others are specific but others are specific to manic depressionto manic depression

It affects your creativityIt affects your creativity It can lead to drug and It can lead to drug and

alcohol abusealcohol abuse It can also lead to It can also lead to

suicidesuicide

CreativityCreativity

During manic episodes, people tend to have During manic episodes, people tend to have a high creative outputa high creative output

Example: Vincent Van Gogh was a manic Example: Vincent Van Gogh was a manic depressive who experienced severe mood depressive who experienced severe mood swings. He even sliced off his ear during a swings. He even sliced off his ear during a fit of despairfit of despair

Other famous manic depressives: Mark Other famous manic depressives: Mark Twain, Virginia Woolf, Lord Byron, Edgar Twain, Virginia Woolf, Lord Byron, Edgar Allan Poe, Michelangelo, Tennessee Allan Poe, Michelangelo, Tennessee Williams, and Robert SchumannWilliams, and Robert Schumann

Drug and Alcohol AbuseDrug and Alcohol Abuse According to the National Institute of Mental According to the National Institute of Mental

Health, 60% of people with Bipolar Disorder are Health, 60% of people with Bipolar Disorder are also diagnosed with drug or alcohol abusealso diagnosed with drug or alcohol abuse

Used to dull the extreme moods experienced Used to dull the extreme moods experienced during both manic and depressive phasesduring both manic and depressive phases

It temporarily masks the symptoms, but over time It temporarily masks the symptoms, but over time it makes the symptoms worseit makes the symptoms worse

Drugs and alcohol can act on the brain’s Drugs and alcohol can act on the brain’s neurotransmitters in a way that over stimulates neurotransmitters in a way that over stimulates the nerve cell pathways that govern emotionsthe nerve cell pathways that govern emotions

This can upset your natural mood-balancing This can upset your natural mood-balancing systems, causing you to experience even more systems, causing you to experience even more severe mood swings severe mood swings

SuicideSuicide

People who suffer from bipolar disorder People who suffer from bipolar disorder are 30 times more likely to commit are 30 times more likely to commit suicide than those without a mood suicide than those without a mood disorderdisorder

When coupled with substance abuse When coupled with substance abuse and aggressive behavior, the risks for and aggressive behavior, the risks for suicide grow even highersuicide grow even higher

Between 20% to 50% of manic Between 20% to 50% of manic depressives attempt suicide at least depressives attempt suicide at least onceonce

TreatmentTreatment

According to the National Institute of Mental According to the National Institute of Mental Health, less than 30% of people suffering Health, less than 30% of people suffering from depression seek treatmentfrom depression seek treatment

Manic depression is a chronic illness for Manic depression is a chronic illness for which there is no curewhich there is no cure

The most effective treatment is a The most effective treatment is a combination of carefully controlled and combination of carefully controlled and continued medication along with therapy continued medication along with therapy and good lifestyle habitsand good lifestyle habits

Why?Why?

During a depressed episode, you will During a depressed episode, you will likely feel so tired and hopeless that likely feel so tired and hopeless that getting help will seem impossiblegetting help will seem impossible

During a manic episode, you will feel During a manic episode, you will feel extreme happiness, self-confidence, extreme happiness, self-confidence, and invincibility that will persuade you and invincibility that will persuade you that you have never felt betterthat you have never felt better

Between both mood extremes, you will Between both mood extremes, you will likely have moments when you feel likely have moments when you feel normalnormal

MedicationMedication

Traditional medication Traditional medication used for Bipolar used for Bipolar Disorder is a natural Disorder is a natural substance called substance called LithiumLithium

In 1995, the FDA In 1995, the FDA approved Depakoteapproved Depakote

One of the most One of the most successful medications successful medications that has not been that has not been approved by the FDA is approved by the FDA is TegretolTegretol

Zoloft, Paxil, or Prozall Zoloft, Paxil, or Prozall (all antidepressants) (all antidepressants) can also be given with can also be given with the mood stabilizers, the mood stabilizers, but using but using antidepressants antidepressants without the mood without the mood stabilizing drugs can stabilizing drugs can cause a manic phase cause a manic phase very quicklyvery quickly

Medication Continued…Medication Continued…

Treating Manic Depression is complex Treating Manic Depression is complex because what works for one person because what works for one person might not work for someone elsemight not work for someone else

Often, people in a manic phase will Often, people in a manic phase will feel so good that they think they don’t feel so good that they think they don’t need any medicine, or their heads will need any medicine, or their heads will be so filled with thoughts that they can be so filled with thoughts that they can forget to take their medicineforget to take their medicine

Other important treatmentsOther important treatments

It is essential to see a professional who It is essential to see a professional who is an expert on what you are going is an expert on what you are going throughthrough

It is also important to keep a healthy It is also important to keep a healthy body by eating balanced, nutritious body by eating balanced, nutritious meals, exercising, dealing with stress, meals, exercising, dealing with stress, relaxing, getting plenty of sleep, and relaxing, getting plenty of sleep, and sharing your feelings.sharing your feelings.

Works CitedWorks CitedAmerican Psychiatric Association: American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Diagnostic and

Statistical Manual ofStatistical Manual of Mental DisordersMental Disorders, Fourth Edition. , Fourth Edition. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, 1994.1994.

Harmon, Dan. “The Tortured Mind: The Many Faces of Harmon, Dan. “The Tortured Mind: The Many Faces of Manic Depression.” Manic Depression.” The Encyclopedia of Psychological The Encyclopedia of Psychological DisordersDisorders. USA: Chelsea House Publishers, 1998.. USA: Chelsea House Publishers, 1998.

Johnson, Catherine, and Ratey, John J. Johnson, Catherine, and Ratey, John J. Shadow Shadow SyndromesSyndromes. New York: Pantheon Books, 1997.. New York: Pantheon Books, 1997.

Sommers, Michael A. “Bipolar Disorder and Manic Sommers, Michael A. “Bipolar Disorder and Manic Depressive Illness.” Depressive Illness.” Everything You Need to Know Everything You Need to Know AboutAbout. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc, . New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc, 2000. 64.2000. 64.