Bipolar Disorder Treatment Altamonte Springs, FL

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

Symptoms of bipolar disorder vary by type and may change over time. While most people experience both manic/hypomanic and depressive episodes, their symptoms will vary.

People who experience manic and hypomanic episodes may have the following symptoms:

• Abnormally upbeat, jumpy, or wired
• Decreased need for sleep
• Distractibility
• Exaggerated sense of well-being and self-confidence (euphoria)
• Increased activity, energy, or agitation
• Poor decision-making (shopping sprees, sexual risks, and foolish investments)
• Racing thoughts
• Unusual talkativeness

People who experience more frequent depressive episodes may experience symptoms such as:

• Decreased ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness
• Depressed mood, such as feeling sad, empty, hopeless, or tearful (in children and teens, depressed mood can appear as irritability)
• Either insomnia or sleeping too much
• Either restlessness or slowed behavior
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt
• Marked loss of interest or feeling no pleasure in all — or almost all — activities
• Significant weight loss when not dieting, weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite (in children, failure to gain weight, as expected can be a sign of depression)
• Thinking about, planning or attempting suicide

Causes and Risk Factors

Although there are no proven causes of bipolar disorder, various genetic and environmental factors may make a person more likely to develop one. Children with a parent with bipolar disorder are more likely to acquire the disorder than those who do not. However, studies showed that identical twins were the least likely to inherit the disorder from their parents.

Environmental factors include stress, major life changes, the onset of a medical condition, loss of a loved one, smoking, and alcohol and substance abuse. According to the Cleveland Clinic, an estimated 60 percent of people with bipolar disorder are dependent on drugs or alcohol. The study relates bipolar disorder to those with seasonal depression, anxiety disorder, and PTSD.

Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder

There is no definitive test or way to diagnose bipolar disorder. Typically, a series of tests and methods can help assess a person’s condition and rule out the possibility of other disorders or conditions. It is important for the patient to begin monitoring mood changes as they come and write down the feelings exhibited during intense episodes in order to properly describe these emotions to a therapist or psychiatrist.

To diagnose bipolar disorder, we will go through an an initial consultation and assessment in which we have a discussion about the symptoms and episodes a patient experiences. The assessment may include a physical test, lab work, a thyroid function test, and urine analyses. These tests are primarily done to rule out other possibilities that could be affecting mood. After ruling out all other possibilities, we conduct a mental health evaluation which consists of questions relating to both manic/hypomanic and depressive episodes. In most cases, this evaluation can appropriately diagnose a patient with bipolar disorder and help us curate the best treatment.

Types of Bipolar Disorder Treatment

Following a bipolar disorder diagnosis, we will customize a series of treatments to help develop a collective effort at home, work, and the office that effectively manages the symptoms. Treatment for bipolar disorder includes comprehensive treatments such as medication, treatment, and various complementary treatments.

Comprehensive treatments refer to a full treatment plan, including medication, therapies, and other treatments specific to each patient. Medications used to treat bipolar disorder are generally mood-stabilizers such as lithium (Lithobid) and valproic acid (Depakene). Various forms of treatment are especially effective when coupled with other treatments. Therapy for bipolar disorder includes behavioral treatment, interpersonal and social rhythm treatment, and family-focused treatment.

Complementary treatments are mainly effective in addition to the primary treatment and not as stand-alone treatments. Complementary treatments may include light and dark treatment to regulate the patient’s biological clock, mindfulness meditation, and acupuncture. Florida Psychiatric Associates will typically recommend these on a case by case basis.