Bipolar Treatment
Biploar Disorder Treatment in Naples, FL
What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder, also referred to as manic-depressive illness, is a mood disorder that involves fluctuations between a hyperactive or manic state to a depressed state. These mood changes affect energy, behavior, activity levels, and your ability to manage day-to-day tasks.
Bipolar disorder is common and affects about 2% of the population in the United States. The condition typically presents when people are between 20 and 30 years old, but it’s not unusual to experience symptoms in late childhood.
Bipolar I is categorized as having experienced at least one manic episode. A person with bipolar I disorder may or may not have a significant depressive episode. A bipolar II diagnosis requires one major depressive episode persisting for at least two weeks and one or more hypomanic episodes (a period less severe than a full-blown manic episode). People with bipolar II typically don’t experience manic episodes intense enough to require hospitalization.
Bipolar disorder affects men and women equally. However, men tend to exhibit more manic episodes, while women tend to have more depressive episodes.
What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder symptoms can vary based on the current state of mood.
During a manic episode, symptoms may include:
- Elation
- High energy
- Flight of ideas
- Impaired judgment
- Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
- Jumpiness
- Difficulty sleeping
- Agitation or irritability
- Risky behavior (such as spending sprees)
Manic episodes can last a few days to a few weeks or even several weeks to months. But it’s important to know that you can also experience hypomania. You have the same symptoms during hypomanic episodes but are less severe.
Full-blown mania often leads to hospitalization. By comparison, people with hypomanic symptoms usually keep up with their daily responsibilities.
During a depressive episode, symptoms may include:
- Feeling sad, down, or hopeless
- Low energy
- Low self-esteem
- Changes in sleep pattern
- Decreased activity level
- Feeling worried or empty
- Change in appetite
- Difficulty concentrating
The symptoms of depressive episodes can be debilitating.
Types of Bipolar
The severity of the shifts in mood varies and plays a role in determining bipolar disorder type.
The types of bipolar disorder include:
Bipolar I disorder
With bipolar I disorder, manic episodes last more than seven days or are so severe they require immediate hospitalization. The manic episodes are then followed by depressive episodes that last at least two weeks.
Bipolar II disorder
People with bipolar II disorder cycle between hypomanic and depressive episodes. Hypomanic symptoms are less severe than the manic symptoms in bipolar I disorder.
Cyclothymia
Cyclothymia is a mood disorder that causes ongoing hypomanic and depressive episodes that last two or more years or more than one year in adolescents. However, the hypomanic and depressive symptoms don’t meet the diagnostic criteria for a bipolar disorder diagnosis.
How Can Dura Medical Treat Bipolar?
Getting Treatment
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong mental health condition that causes rapid shifts in mood. Psychotherapy, psychiatric medication, and other treatments can help many people with bipolar disorder live healthy and productive life. At Dura Medical in Naples, Florida, Stephen Durand, CRNA, APRN, Kathryn Hart, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CPNP-PC, and the team provide exceptional care for patients with bipolar disorder. Contact the practice by phone to schedule your appointment or request one online today.
