However, the majority of patients have more than one. Some individuals may have only two or three within their lifetime while others may have the same number within a single year. Frequency of episodes depends on many factors including the natural course of the condition as well as on appropriate treatment.
Not taking medication or taking it incorrectly are frequent causes of episode recurrence. Although it is possible that during the natural course of the illness individual patients may get well without any medication, the challenge is that it is impossible to identify or determine beforehand who those fortunate patients are. The new term may apply to either episodes of mania with additional symptoms of depression or the opposite, episodes of depression with additional symptoms of mania.
The overall idea is that the presence of both symptoms of mania and depression can exist at the same time. Symptoms of mania include elated or irritable mood, decreased need to sleep or racing thoughts. Symptoms of depression can include depressed mood, impaired sleep and feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness. A mixture of drugs will almost always be necessary to control mixed states. Some antipsychotic options include :. However, current combinations of medication often lead to intolerable side effects and poor adherence to a treatment plan from people taking this route of treatment.
Some research suggests that anticonvulsants may be more effective for people with mixed states than the more traditional antimanic drugs. If these drugs are not sufficient, a doctor may add antipsychotic or anti-anxiety medication. It is essential that people with a mixed specifier of bipolar disorder take their medicines on time and regularly to avoid triggering an episode.
Electroconvulsive therapy ECT is another possible treatment option for individuals who have not responded well to medications. ECT involves applying electrical shocks to the brain to induce a seizure. The actual mechanism by which ECT is effective is not known. ECT is particularly effective for people with bipolar disorder who are suicidal, catatonic, and people who experience persistent mixed states.
Psychotherapy and supportive counseling can also help to alleviate stress and depressive symptoms. It is essential to see a doctor as soon as a mixed episode starts to develop. An episode can put an individual at risk of harm, and symptoms can worsen without treatment. Lastly, there is some evidence that remaining in a state of dysphoric mania is not good for the brain and may lead to more difficult to treat symptoms if prolonged.
Noonan adds that bipolar disorder with mixed features is difficult to treat, but seeking treatment is essential because of the risks involved. Hospitalization may be necessary if the person attempts or is considering suicide.
All forms of bipolar disorder can be extremely disruptive, but Dr. Marsh explains. Marsh also says a person experiencing a mixed episode commonly has thoughts of escaping the misery or even death. What would happen to my children? Initially, you might think it sounds pretty impossible to experience depression and mania at the same time. Joey, 41, who was diagnosed with bipolar II in , also experiences episodes with mixed features.
For Emma, 20, mixed states are the most common. I'm very short with people. Even the smallest things can set off my anxiety. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification.
I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Diagnosis With Mania. Diagnosis With Depression. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Related Articles.
The 4 Types of Bipolar Disorder.
0コメント