Manic and Depressive Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder or manic depression is characterized by many symptoms that can be broken into manic and depressive episodes. The depressive episodes are characterized by intense feelings of sadness, despair, hopelessness, and helplessn

In another type of bipolar disorder, a person experiences major depression and hippomanic episodes, or episodes of milder mania. In a related disorder called cyclothymic disorder, a person’s mood alternates between mild depression and mild mania.(Encarta Encyclopedia) The three stages of mania begin with hippomania, in which patients report that they are energetic, extroverted and assertive. The hippomania state has led observers to feel that bipolar patients are "addicted" to their mania. Hippomania progresses into mania and the transition is marked by loss of judgment. Often, overjoyed grandiose characteristics are displayed, and paranoid or irritable characteristics begin to manifest. The third stage of mania is when the patient experiences delusions with often paranoid ideas. Speech is generally rapid and hyperactive behavior sometimes becomes violent when frustrated ((NIMH) (Encarta Encyclopedia)

Yet another popular treatment for bipolar disorder is electro-convulsive shock therapy. ECT is usually the recommended treatment for severely manic patients who are homicidal, psychotic, catatonic, severely suicidal, or for those who were unresponsive to drugs.(Kalat 433) (Encarta Encyclopedia)

Lithium salts has been the primary treatment of bipolar disorder which continues to be used since it accidental discovery by J.F.Cade.(Kalat 434) It is main function is to stabilize the mood of bipolar disorder patients. The drug usually takes two to three weeks to become effective. People with bipolar disorder may take lithium during periods of normal mood to delay or prevent later episodes of mania or depression. Common side effects of lithium include nausea, increased thirst and urination, dizziness, loss of appetite, and muscle weakness. Unfortunately, 20- 40% of bipolar patients are either unresponsive to lithium or can’t stand the side effects.(Encarta Encyclopedia) For those 20 to 40 percent of people who do not respond to lithium therapy, two anticonvulsant drugs m

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