Bipolar Mood
Disorder

By Brandon Riesenmy M.D.

Bipolar mood disorder (BMD) is a condition marked by severe mood swings and effects over 2 million Americans. Accurate diagnosis is crucial as effective therapies are available. Without treatment, a person with BMD generally will suffer impairments in all aspects of their life.

Symptoms of BMD include mood swings with typically periods of depression alternating with periods of mania. Manic symptoms include markedly decreased need for sleep, hyperactivity, racing thoughts, impulsivity, and grandiosity. There are two main types of Bipolar disorder, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1, BMD is the more severe form of the illness.

Although BMD can start much earlier in life, the majority of those afflicted have the onset of symptoms in their 20�s or 30�s. Most evidence supports the idea that this condition is hereditary. Family history is usually positive for mood and / or anxiety disorders in some blood relatives.

The mainstay of treatment for BMD are medications referred to as mood stabilizers. Antidepressant medications have to be used with caution as they can sometimes make the individual with BMD have an increase in mood swings and /or manic symptoms. Some commonly used mood stabilizers include valproic acid (Depakote), lithium, carbamazapine (Tegretol), and lamotrigine (Lamictal). It is not unusual for a Bipolar patient to require two or more medications to achieve mood stability.

If someone feels that they are suffering from a mood disorder then they should seek an evaluation by a qualified Psychiatrist so that an accurate diagnosis can be made and proper treatment begun.

Early intervention and treatment is important to prevent the negative consequences of BMD.

People with BMD are at higher risk of having a child with a mood disorder, so it is important to recognize the symptoms of a mood disorder and seek an evaluation when indicated.

Brandon Riesenmy M.D.,
Board Certified Psychiatrist

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