Type 2 Bipolar Information?

2 Comments

1. DBT-CBT Therapy Workbook says:

   August 12, 2010 at 8:49 am

   Bipolar II Disorder is a milder form of Bipolar I Disorder. Bipolar I Disorder was once called Manic-Depression or Manic-Depressive Disorder. Bipolar means “two poles” or two extremes….mania and depression. Bipolar I involves a “full blown manic episode” which is very intense and severe whereas Bipolar II is marked by hypomanic episodes which are a milder form of mania. Most often, the depressive episodes are less severe in Bipolar II as well.
   Most people think of mania as someone who is very high and happy…an extremely happy, jovial, and energetic mood. However, mania and hypomania can involve a very irritable, angry, agitated, or volatile mood.
   Bipolar Disorder is about mood swings…from a hypomanic or manic mood to a depressed mood. These moods last for days or weeks….not minutes or hours.
   Both forms of Bipolar Disorder are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. Medication is necessary to restore the balance of neurotransmitters (chemicals) in the brain. Abilify is a medication that treats Bipolar Disorder. Other mood stabilizers that are used for Bipolar Diso that you might be familiar with are Depakote, Valproic Acid, Lithium, and Tegretol. Abilify and Risperdal are two newer medications that treat Bipolar.
   I’ve copied off some information from the DSM-IV, the book we use to diagnose mental disorders. It’s from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, it’s fourth revision. If you go to a search engine and type in DSM-IV symptoms of Bipolar Disorder, you can read a whole lot about these mood disorders.
   You can also type in Abilify and get a whole lot of information about this medication. Don’t panic, it’s also used for psychosis, but it is a good medication for Bipolar too!
   Here’s some criteria for Hypomania and Depression.
   Criteria for Hypomanic Episode (DSM-IV, p. 338)
   A. A distinct period of persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting throughout at least 4 days, that is clearly different from the usual nondepressed mood.
   B. During the period of mood disturbance, three (or more) of the following symptoms have persisted (four if the mood is only irritable) and have been present to a significant degree:
   1.inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
   2.decreased need for sleep (e.g., feels rested after only 3 hours of sleep)
   3.more talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
   4.flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing
   5.distractibility (i.e., attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant external stimuli)
   6.increase in goal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation
   7.excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., engaging in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments)
   C. The episode is associated with an unequivocal change in functioning that is uncharacteristic of the person when not symptomatic.
   D. The disturbance in mood and the change in functioning are observable by others.
   E. The episode is not severe enough to cause marked impairment in social or occupational functioning, or to necessitate hospitalization, and there are no psychotic features.
   F. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication, or other treatment) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).
   Note: Hypomanic-like episodes that are clearly caused by somatic antidepressant treatment (e.g., medication, electroconvulsive therapy, light therapy) should not count toward a diagnosis of Bipolar II Disorder.
   Criteria for Major Depressive Episode (DSM-IV, p. 327)
   A. Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.
   Note: Do not include symptoms that are clearly due to a general medical condition, or mood-incongruent delusions or hallucinations.
   1.depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g. appears tearful). Note: In children and adolescents, can be irritable mood.
   2.markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others)
   3.significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. Note: In children, consider failure to make expected weight gains.
   4.insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
   5.psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed
2. Ms Kitty says:

   August 12, 2010 at 9:17 am

   Celexa id an anti depressant and Abilify is an anti psychotic. Anti depressants can cause mania in Bipolar patients so they are used with caution. Abilify will help with both the depressive and manic symptoms. Being on an anti psychotic does not mean you are or may be psychotic….. they work for many things, just as asprin works for fever and pain and thins the blood…..I loved Abilify but had to stop taking it because of side effects. Keep your doctor apprised of any uncomfortable side effects. The main two types of therapy are CBT (Cognative Behavior therapy) and DBT (Dialectic Behavior Therapy). Both are good it will just depend on which one your therapist prefers and which works best for you. It takes time to figure it all out. I was diagonosed BP1 5 years ago and I’m still figuring myself out. Good Luck