Bipolar Disorder

Type of psychology: Biological bases of behavior; psychopathology;

psychotherapy

psychotherapy

Fields of study: Biological treatments; depression

Key concepts

• diathesis-stress model

• lithium carbonate

• mania

• melatonin

• neurotransmitter

• psychotic symptoms

• seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

Although mood fluctuations are a normal part of life, individuals with bipolar

affective disorder experience extreme mood changes. Bipolar affective

disorder, or bipolar disorder (also called manic-depressive disorder),

has been identified as a major psychiatric disorder characterized by dramatic

mood and behavior changes. These changes, ranging from episodes

of high euphoric moods to deep depressions, with accompanying behavioral

and personality changes, are devastating to the victims of the disorder

and perplexing to the loved ones of those affected. Prevalence rates have

been estimated at about 1.6 (0.8 to 2.6) percent of the American population.

The disorder is divided fairly equally between males and females. Clinical

psychiatry has been effective in providing biochemical intervention in

the formof lithium carbonate to stabilize or modulate the ups and downs of

this illness. However, lithium treatment has only been effective for approximately

70 percent of those to whom it is administered. Mood-stabilizing

anticonvulsant medications such as Depakote, Tegretol, and Lamictal, are

showing promise in helping some people who were formerly referred to as

lithium nonresponders. Psychotherapy is seen by most practitioners as a

necessary adjunct to medication.