The country has about 1.1% of its population suffering from one mental disorder or another.  The percentage of people suffering from bipolar disorder is almost 1%.  This is an illness that unlike other physiological disorders cannot be diagnosed.  It is defined as a disorder that occurs when a person goes through mood fluctuations or mood swings between two extreme moods - mania and depression .  Hence, the definition of bipolar disorder

The reasons for occurrence of bipolar disorder are both genetic abnormalities as well as environmental factors.  In a patient afflicted by the illness, research has shown that in the key areas of the brain there are fault regions.  This is the inherent problem of bipolar disorder patients.  The environment they live in also influences their mood swings. 

Thus, we see that when  an adolescent has to move to a new neighborhood or move from his present school and relocate somewhere else, sudden outbursts appear. Sometimes, the outbursts are caused by the death of a spouse or a dear one.  Even seasonal changes like summer, winter and spring trigger these episodes.  A change in the biological clock also triggers these episodes. 

These episodes are first classified depending on the degree of severity.  All the degrees of mania or depression between these endpoints are classified as Bipolar I type, Bipolar type II, Cyclothamia etc.  Officially, four types of the bipolar disorder are recognized.

Depending on the type of the bipolar disorder, the doctors prescribe the treatment.  For example, in type I, the symptoms are mania as well as depression. The medicines prescribed therefore, would include mood stabilizers as well as antipsychotic drugs. Sometimes, antidepressants are also prescribed.  In Bipolar type I, antipsychotic medicines are contraindicated as there is no antipsychotic characteristics in this disorder.

Careful diagnosis based on the history, signs and symptoms and blood tests as well as feedbacks offered by the patients and family would enable the doctor to prescribe the most appropriate treatment protocol to each and every patient.  There is no instant and complete cure for bipolar disorder.   The patient needs to be prepared to face antagonism from society as their behavior would be very abnormal. The sudden bouts of episodes can unsettle everyone.  It is essential that the workplace be sensitized in anticipation of the patient’s behavioral changes.

Family support and support from DSA groups where there are patients with similar histories of bipolar disorder would assuage the hurt pride of the patient.  It also becomes a medium to share the angst and achievements the patient successfully overcame to inspire our future patients.

Reference

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/bipolar_disorder/article_em.htm