It is and how to know you suffer bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a very named disease of which there is a large amount of information. We will try to clarify what exactly it is and how it is treated. We can define bipolar disorder as an affective disorder in which the patient goes through stages of total normality interrupted by depressive phases and / or phases of euphoria in which, in severe cases, they may lose the link with reality. And, although it is unknown, it is a disorder that has an important genetic load .

Among the disorder itself, which appears between the second and fourth decade of life, we can differentiate four types of phases that usually have a seasonal association and that are: depressive phases, manic phases (serious, with worse prognosis), hypomanic phases ( milder) and hypomanic phases precipitated by antidepressants (of better prognosis).

The symptoms

40% of the population suffering from bipolar disorder do not know yet. Symptoms will depend on the severity of the disorder, although the depressive phase is accompanied by a sad mood, lack of energy, inability to enjoy, relational isolation, irritability, loss of appetite, weight loss, hyposexuality, slow movement, speech and thinking, insomnia. maintenance and morning aggravation. And on the other hand, the hypomanic phase goes on with euphoria, greater self-confidence, increased activity and spending, greater speed of thought and speech, hypersexuality and insomnia of conciliation or total insomnia and may worsen until it leads to a phase Maniac with appearance of aggressiveness and psychotic symptoms.

Treatment

Pharmacotherapy is essential, although the key is the stabilization of the frame with mood stabilizers and certain antipsychotics that also prevent and / or attenuate manic phases.. In addition, patient psychoeducation and physician-patient collaboration entails an improvement in prognosis and a reduction in the serious complications that characterize this disease.