Bipolar disorder symptoms include intense feelings of elation and excitement followed by depression.
Bipolar disorder affects 1% of adults in Singapore aged 20 - 40
It is normal for one’s mood to vary from day to day. But what if you keep experiencing extreme mood swings? You could be suffering from a psychiatric illness called bipolar disorder, which affects 1 per cent of adults in Singapore aged between 20 and 40.
People with bipolar disorder typically alternate between manic (“high”) and depressive (“low”) states. They may feel hyper energetic and euphoric one day, and sad and hopeless the next, without any external circumstances explaining the change.
“Although there is no cure for bipolar disorder, the mood swings can now be better managed with psychotherapy and medications called mood stabilisers,” says Specialists from the Department of Psychiatry at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a member of the SingHealth group.
“Mood stabilisers are taken alone or together with anti-depressants to control the symptoms of bipolar disorder.”
What causes bipolar disorder?
The risk of bipolar disorder is higher if a parent or sibling has the disorder. Dysfunction in neurotransmitters like noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine is a possible cause. Imaging studies also show that there are structural and functional changes in the brains of people with bipolar disorder.
Signs of bipolar disorder
People with bipolar disorder may experience distinct manic and depressive episodes or a mixed state with both manic and depressive symptoms. The frequency of these episodes of extreme mood swings can vary from several times a day to once every few months or years.
Bipolar disorder treatment options
To stop bipolar disorder from disrupting the patient’s life and affecting their work and home relationships, doctors increasingly recommend a combination of treatments:
10 Tips for people living with bipolar disorder
Ref: L20
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