Bipolar Disorder: Important Information About It

Causes of Bipolar Disorder

It is worth noting that the exact cause of bipolar disorder is not yet determined, but there are some factors and causes that increase the chances of developing it, as follows:

• Genetic Factors

Genetic or hereditary factors play a key role in the occurrence of bipolar disorder, especially if there are first-degree relatives affected by it, such as a father, mother, sister, or brother.

• Environmental and Psychological Factors

These factors include periods of psychological and emotional stress that a person experiences in their life, including severe shocks, loss of a loved one, and others, which clearly activate the genes responsible for this disorder.

• Biological Factors

These are represented by problems in brain cells, especially in individuals who excessively consume alcohol, drugs, and tobacco; these substances increase the likelihood of experiencing more frequent manic and depressive episodes.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

It is important to mention that bipolar disorder occurs in varying degrees; symptoms differ accordingly and can reach advanced stages leading to personality dissociation. Some of these symptoms include:

• Hyperactivity and excessive energy.
• Excessive talking.
• Inability to sit still for a long time.
• Overthinking about doing many tasks without completing any of them.
• Thinking about unreal ideas or fantasies.
• Engaging in socially inappropriate behaviors such as unjustified excessive touching.
• Buying unnecessary items and spending large sums of money excessively.

Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

Treatment of bipolar disorder varies depending on the health condition and the severity of the disorder. In mild cases, treatment is straightforward, but danger increases when the disorder reaches severe manic or depressive episodes. Treatment methods include:

• Medical Treatment

Medications play an important role in treating bipolar disorder, mainly mood stabilizers that control manic and depressive episodes, along with antidepressants and others. The dosage and suitable medication are determined by a specialized doctor depending on the type and severity of the disorder, and the side effects of these medications are very minimal. It is essential to continue taking bipolar disorder medication even if the patient feels better, to prevent sudden relapses.

• Psychological Therapy

Psychological therapy for bipolar patients mainly involves Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which has proven effective especially in treating depressive symptoms associated with the disorder by focusing on addressing the thoughts and behaviors causing problems. It is important to understand that this type of therapy indirectly treats the disorder as follows:

• Supporting the patient after manic episodes.
• Fixing social and financial conditions affected during episodes.
• Family therapy is important to support the patient and control triggers of episodes.