Depression Symptoms In Bipolar Patients – Ways To Help Them

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There are many illnesses which have been known to cause much confusion in people, especially in recorded history, such as depression. This disorder was suffered by historical figures such as King David and Job (from the Hebrew bible). Hippocrates even mentioned having depression, which was then contemporarily known as Melancholia, caused by the excess of ‘black bile. Old medical physiologyy stated there were four humours based on the four main bodily fluids black and yellow bile, blood and lastly, phlegm. For years to come, depression was portrayed in arts and literature. what do we understand about depressive disorder today?

Depressive disorders have been around for centuries, and many people have suffered without getting diagnosed and the necessary treatment. Today, there is more awareness about the disorder, even though millions are still unaware they have it. For some people, it is still embarrassing to reveal that they suffer from this illness and they don’t want to accept it themselves. Depressive disorders are made up of different types, like a lot of other illnesses. The more familiar types known to people are Bipolar Disorder, Major Depression, and Dysthymia.

In Bipolar a patient has depression as well as mania cycles. In Major Depression, the symptoms include feeling sad, not being able to eat and sleep properly, inability to cope with work and finding life less enjoyable. Their lives are upset greatly. Dysthymia is not as severe as Major Depression, although there are long term symptoms and a person can experience major depressive episodes. Whilst there is no cure, there are good treatments and medications to help patients stabilise and control any episodes. Their quality of life becomes better.

Many symptoms are present in Depressive Disorders. Anyone with Bipolar can experience all these symptoms during a cycle of depression. During a cycle of mania, only symptoms to do with the cycle are felt.

The following is a list of the depressive symptoms experienced by Bipolar patients:

. Ongoing anxiety, sadness and of ‘feeling empty’
. Losing interest and pleasure in activities or hobbies that were once very enjoyable
. Insomnia or a tendency to oversleep
. Eating more and gaining weight
. Loss of appetite, with weight reduction
. Thoughts of suicide and death
. Lack of energy and fatigue
. Feeling restless and irritable
. Unable to make decisions, loss of concentration and memory
. They feel physical symptoms: digestive disorders, muscular aches and pains, more headaches.

Not all the symptoms are experienced by Bipolar patients. There may only be a few from the list, whilst there are those who get many of the symptoms. Symptoms vary for each person with many degrees of severity.

An individual needs to have a proper psychological and physical evaluation, so that suitable treatment can be organised. A doctor will carry out a full interview asking many questions, with a physical examination and laboratory tests to rule out any other possibilities. Sometimes depressive symptoms can be brought on by other illness or side effects of medication that are taken for other conditions. This is important for any person so that the correct type of depressive illness is determined.

The evaluation is diagnostic in looking at the patient’s medical history, the symptoms they experience, and for how long. Questions will be asked to find out the severity of what they feel, and if they have experienced certain symptoms. The doctor will also need to know if you have been treated before for the same symptoms and the medications you were prescribed. A Bipolar patient will also be asked whether they use alcohol or drugs, which can influence how they feel, or any thoughts they have had on death or suicide. Looking at the family’s medical history is important to determine any causes.

A person’s mental status can be affected by the Bipolar Depression symptoms. Their memory, speech and also their thought pattern can also be assessed in an evaluation to see how they have been affected. It also helps to speak to the patient’s spouse, partner or close friend who knows them to see how they have changed. X-rays and blood tests are not required in mental disorders. Medical, detailed scans such as CT, MRI, PET and SPECT are unable to detect brain changes of patients with Bipolar or, in fact, any other mental illness.

A doctor who specialises in this field, is able to evaluate the state of a Bipolar patient’s mind properly. The correct treatment along with medication can then be prescribed to help the patient as soon as possible to control the episodes, and lead a normal life. For the individual, their symptoms may be normal for them, but treatment is necessary for their wellbeing. It can be alarming for others when they see a person at the height of their depressive illness, for example if they do things to the extreme. They may be seen as insane.

You should always see a doctor if you are experiencing any symptoms to determine the cause. Looking at the major symptoms of Bipolar can help, as any symptoms no matter how few, can indicate that you could be suffering from Bipolar.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/depression-symptoms-in-bipolar-patients-ways-to-help-them-739490.html

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Comments

2 Comments on Depression Symptoms In Bipolar Patients – Ways To Help Them

  1. drdr on Tue, 23rd Feb 2010 1:58 am

    2. The introduction and conclusion summarize the body of the essay. The conclusion may recommend some further areas to be addressed that are relevant to the subject matter.
    References :
    adj professor

  2. lindsay b on Tue, 23rd Feb 2010 9:56 am

    3. Can someone help me with my conclusion please!?
    Depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses are worldwide to be thought of diseases that are “just in the head”. Even if that is true the patients know they are sick and they need help by taking medication or just talking to someone (depending on the severity). Though some medicines and anti-depressants have side effects, going untreated can be dangerous, and there are alternatives for treatment.
    Mental illnesses are among the most common conditions affecting health today: One in five American adults suffers a diagnosable mental illness in any six month period. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, though, some 90 % of these people will improve or recover if they get treatment. Psychiatrists and other physicians treating mental illnesses have a wide variety of treatments available today to help them help their patients. Most often, psychiatrists will work with a new patient to construct a treatment plan that includes both psychotherapy and psychiatric medication. These medications–combined with other treatments such as individual psychotherapy, group therapy, and behavioral therapy or self-help groups–help millions each year to return to normal, productive lives in his or her communities, living at home with loved ones and, continuing his or her work. (HealthyPlace, 2009)
    Psychiatric researchers believe that people suffering from many mental illnesses have imbalances in the way his or her brain metabolizes certain chemicals, called neurotransmitters. Because neurotransmitters are the messengers the nerve cells use to communicate with one another, these imbalances may result in the emotional, physical and intellectual problems that mentally ill people suffer. New knowledge about how the brain functions has permitted psychiatric researchers to develop medications which can alter the way in which the brain produces stores and releases these neurotransmitter chemicals, alleviating the symptoms of the illness. (HealthyPlace, 2009)
    There is an uprising use of anti-depressants in teenagers, and adolescence. Some believe the use of these medications is dangerous to the younger people but there are far worse penalties such as suicide. Suicide is a major concern even though it is hard to tell who will in fact kill themselves or who is just severely depressed. There are characteristics that identify those that are at risk; social isolation, stressful life events such as the loss of a loved one, financial problems or job loss. Depression, bipolar disorder and acute schizophrenic episodes are also major risk factors, and suicide is often associated with alcohol, or substance abuse. A history of previous attempts or a family member who has committed suicide should ring alarm bells. More women attempt suicide, but men are significantly more likely to be successful.
    There are some side effects of the medicines doctors prescribe, but the good outweighs the bad. In this table are the common medications used for depression.
    Selective Serotonin Reuptake InhibitorsOther AntidepressantsTricyclic Antidepressants
    FluoxetineBuprorionDesipramine
    SertralineTrazadonImapramine
    Paroxetine VenlafaxineAmitriptyline
    NefazodoneMaprotiline
    Doxepin
    Notriptyline
    Amoxapine
    Trimipramine

    Most side effects only last a few weeks then go away. Side effects of anti depressants are; nausea, increased appetite, or weight gain, sexual side effects, fatigue, insomnia, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, dizziness, agitation, restlessness, and anxiety; all which are treatable symptoms and are just a little hurdle when it comes to the recovery of depression. (MayoClinic, 2009) All anti depressants have warning labels. If he or she follow the instructions and be cautious of the warning signs they are safe.
    It is important that children have a thorough evaluation before he or she starts taking an antidepressant. This evaluation should include: A physical exam and a psychiatric exam by a psychiatrist, pediatrician or family doctor. The psychiatric evaluation should include: A detailed review of any potential risk factors a child may have that may make it more likely for him or her to engage in self-harm, an assessment of whether the child may have other mental illnesses such as anxiety disorders, attention-deficit or hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder, and an evaluation of whether there’s a family history of mental illnesses or, suicide. (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009)
    If one is still unsure about using prescription medication to treat mental illnesses there are alternatives such as herbal medication. The potential for treatment as well as increasing use of herbal medicine and psychiatric disorders patients wanting to use alternative treatment options have lead to the need for psychiatrists to become familiar with the effects of herbal medicines. Mental health professionals not only need to know what the herbs are but their contraindications, side effects and risks. Four of

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