Affective disorders encompass a group of conditions that greatly affect mood, thought patterns and activities of daily living. Bipolar, or manic depressive disorder, is an affective disorder that affects the moods of an individual characterized by intense and broadly sweeping mood changes; from incredible euphoria in the manic phase to dark moods while feeling depressed in the depressive phase. Manic depression is broken down into two categories: bipolar type I and bipolar type II. The former type is considered more severe than the latter.
The bipolar malady affects the brain, so it is identified as a mental illness. It occurs because of irregularities in the area of the brain known as the hippocampus. Individuals who suffer from bipolar affective disorder experience intense shifts in mood; highs and lows that are extreme and beyond normal intensity. Often individuals are unable to function properly at work or at home when mood swings persist in frequency. This can also result in faulty decision-making skills and strained relations with family and friends.
In order to diagnose someone with one of the two types of bipolar affective disorders, there may be other special circumstances and conditions that may also cause bipolar medical symptoms and must be ruled out. The person’s medical history will be thoroughly scrutinized for any previous records of mental illness. The individual’s family history will also be reviewed for any prior information on similar mood illness symptoms. Blood tests are also used to help diagnose bipolar affective disorder.
Bipolar disorder has been identified with two classifications, and physicians make the diagnosis based on the symptoms that the person displays. Type I is diagnosed when an individual suffers at least one manic episode or mixed episodes of fluctuating moods between mania and depression, often occurring very quickly, in addition to at least one episode of major depression.
Type II is less severe, and is characterized by at least one major depressive episode and at least one manic episode; or an episode in which the individual experiences a happy mood, but not so much as to prevent good judgment and functioning.
Scientists and researchers are working every day to develop new and more affective medications and treatments for bipolar and other affective disorders. Although effective medications have already been tested and introduced into the marketplace for those who are severely manic and then feeling depressed, scientists are still working towards developing medications that will provide the most benefit while keeping the amount of adverse side effects to a minimum.
Lots of people are prone to depression throughout the dark months of winter. Winter depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is something many people face each and every year. If you are unfamiliar with this condition and think you or someone you know may have it, visit our site to learn more about fighting winter blues depression.
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