| |
Bipolar disorder
November 1, 2007
Misconceptions about bipolar disorder explained, from the Harvard Health Letter
Portrayals of bipolar disorder seem to be cropping up everywhere—in the news, in movies, and on television. The November 2007 issue of the Harvard Health Letter dispels some myths and misunderstandings about this condition.
Bipolar disorder is difficult to diagnose, and it often gets confused with other mental illnesses. Because mania is the hallmark of bipolar disorder, the depressive episodes sometimes get overlooked. The Harvard Health Letter notes that people with bipolar disorder typically spend much more time depressed than manic. In fact, years of depression may go by between manic episodes.
The newsletter also reports that the manic episodes of the disease can come in a milder form, called hypomania, which can feel pleasant and imbue a person with exuberance, energy, and optimism. But hypomania may have negative consequences if that confidence leads to excess spending or promiscuity.
Although bipolar disorder is well known for its mood swings, the depressive and manic aspects of the disorder sometimes overlap, making people tense, restless, and despondent at the same time, according to the Harvard Health Letter. This manifestation goes by several names, including mixed state, mixed affective state, and dysphoric mania.
Despite the tricky nature of this disorder, there are reasons to be optimistic, says the Harvard Health Letter. People with bipolar disorder can lead extraordinarily productive and creative (if trying) lives, and many patients today respond well to medication.
Also in this issue:
- Lowering colon cancer risk
- Life expectancy for Americans
- Can switching to smokeless tobacco help smokers?
- Dental bacteria and pneumonia
- Why cholesterol particle size matters
- By the way, doctor: Are giant platelets cause for worry? and, Can I take L-arginine?
 Related
Information
Harvard Health Letter is available
from Harvard Health Publications, the publishing division
of the Harvard Medical School. You can subscribe at www.health.harvard.edu/health or
by calling 1-877-649-9457 toll-free.
About Harvard Health Publications
Harvard Health
Publications publishes five monthly newsletters—Harvard
Health Letter, Harvard
Women's Health Watch, Harvard
Men's Health Watch, Harvard
Mental Health Letter, and Harvard
Heart Letter—as well as more than 50 special
health reports and books drawing on the expertise of
the 8,000 faculty physicians at Harvard Medical School
and its world-famous affiliated hospitals. For more
information about Harvard Medical School publications,
please visit our Web site, www.health.harvard.edu.
Source: Harvard
Health Publications
Contact: hhpmedia@hms.harvard.edu
Web site: http://www.health.harvard.edu |
|
Printed
Version:
