What is Bipolar Disorder?

A chronic mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings which switch between mania and deep depression

Bipolar I -

Mania-

- At Least one episode of extreme mania lasting more than a week.

Depression-

- Tends to be milder than other bipolar types. Some experience no depression at all.

Symptoms-

- Increased Energy

- Talking extremely quickly

- Euphoria

Bipolar II -

Mania-

- Syptoms of hypomania (a milder form of mania) lasting at least four days

Depression-

- At least one depressive episode, broken up by periods of hypomania.

Symptoms-

- feeling of hopelessness

- Fatigue

- Irritable and anxious

Cyclothymia - (less severe)

Mania-

- elevated mood

Depression-

- mild or moderate depressive symptoms

Symptoms-

- Similar to Bipolar I or Bipolar II disorder, but less severe

- Can typically function in your daily life, though not always well.

- Unpredictable mood swings

-Unspecified bipolar disorder-

While most people with bipolar disorder will fall into one of the above categories, some people are diagnosed with what’s known as unspecified bipolar disorder. This is when they show some of the key symptoms of bipolar disorder, including depression, mania and hypomania, but don’t meet the exact diagnostic criteria to receive a formal diagnosis of a specific type of bipolar disorder.

However, receiving a diagnosis of unspecified bipolar disorder doesn’t mean that your condition is any less significant than the other types. It’s likely that someone with unspecified bipolar disorder will still need support to help them cope with their symptoms.

Genetic Causes-

- Scientists believe that bipolar disorder is not caused by a singular gene but boy multiple genes each contributing a small amount to the vulnerability, acting together with environmental causes

Genetic Factors-

- Bipolar Disorder is the most likely mental health disorder to be passed down from family (80% of bipolar disorder cases is passed down from family)

- One parent has Bipolar disorder) 10% chance the child gets it

- Two parents have bipolar disorder) 40% chance the child gets it

Biological Causes & Factors-

- The biological causes of bipolar disorder is uncertain but most research suggest the three brain chemicals linked with most psychiatric disorders is what can help cause bipolar disorder honing in on two.

- Maybe dopamine

- Norepinephrine

- Serotonin

Environmental Factors-

Can be grouped into three clusters and is the most likely cause of bipolar disorder

- neurodevelopmental (maternal influenza during pregnancy; indicators of fetal development),

- substances (cannabis, cocaine, other drugs - opioids, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives)

- physical/psychological stress (parental loss, adversities, abuses, and brain injury)

Created by Jay Monteleon

Keep in mind this is for a school project and I am in no way a medical professional