Bipolar Disorder (Wiki)

Also referred to as a Bipolar Affective Disorder
Also referred to as a Manic Depressive Disorder
Also referred to as a Manic Depressive Psychosis

Medication wise, depressive disorders can be treated with atypical antipsychotics and general mood stabilisers such as lithium.

Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric disorder in which the patient in question experiences states of mood that vary between depression and mania. The mood swings are the features that define the disorder.

There are four defining types of bipolar disorder - Bipolar I, Bipolar II, Cyclothymia and Bipolar Disorder NOS (Not Otherwise Specified). They are outlined below.

"[A] mental disorder characterized by severe and recurrent depression or mania with abrupt or gradual onsets and recoveries. The states of mania and depression may alternate cyclically, one mood state may predominate over the other, or they may be mixed or combined with each other." - Encyclopædia Britannica

Bipolar I - Although depressive episodes are not necessary for a diagnosis, most patients tend to experience them anyway. Essentially, all that is required is an episode or multiple episodes of mania or mixed episodes.

Treatment - Typically, anticonvulsant drugs are the primary means of treatment, but atypical antipsychotics can also play an important role. ECT can be used on severe cases.

Bipolar II - The most common diagnosis criteria, symptoms include deep depressive episodes and passing episodes of hypomania, of which there must be at least one.

Treatment - Pretty much as with Bipolar I sufferers, Bipolar II is typically treated with anticonvulsants and atypical antipsychotics. The depressive phase can be treated with antidepressants, although this practice is being progressively frowned upon as such therapy can accentuate the manic phase.

Bipolar NOS - Any type of bipolar disorder that does not fit into the other three categories is classified as a bipolar NOS disorder.

Treatment - Treatments are subjective and can involve tranquilisers, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, ECT, psychotherapy and so on.

Cyclothymia - Essentially a pseudo bipolar II state, cyclothymia is characterised by multiple hypomanic episodes intermixed with multiple depressive episodes that are not severe enough to be classified as actual major depressive disorder lows. This disorder can appear to be a simple personality trait but is by definition still major enough to interfere with daily life.

Treatment - Psychotherapy is presenting itself as a viable treatment for cyclothymia, along with the traditional mood stabilising drugs. Antidepressants are not used as much in the treatment of this disorder.