Bipolar Affective Disorder Flashcards
What is bipolar affective disorder?
Characterised by recurrent episodes of depression and mania or hypomania
What age do symptoms typically start in bipolar disorder?
Under 25
What is bipolar disorder associated with?
Suicide
What are depressive episodes?
Episodes which feature :
- Low mood
- Anhedonia
- Low energy
Can be severe
What are manic episodes?
Episodes involving excessively elevated mood and energy
Significantly impacts their normal functions
Very disinhibited
Unable to function
More than 7 days
What are hypomanic episodes?
Milder symptoms of mania without significant impact on their function
Only lasts a few days
Able to continue functioning
No feelings of grandiosity
Less than 7 days
What are mixed episodes?
Mix of symptoms or rapid cycling between mania and depression
What are features of mania?
- Elevated mood
- Irritability
- Energetic
- Insomnia
- Grandiosity, ambitious plans, excessive spending, risk taking
- Disinhibition
- Flight of ideas
- Pressured speech
- Psychosis
How is bipolar disorder diagnosed?
Diagnosis made by specialist
Based on
ICD-11
What is Bipolar affective disorder I?
Two distinct mood episodes
Involves at least one episode of mania
What is Bipolar affective disorder II?
One episode of major depression
One episode of hypomania
What is cyclothymia?
Milder symptoms of hypomania and low mood
Symptoms not severe enough to significantly impact their function
What is unipolar depression?
Person only has episodes of depression without hypomania or mania
How is an acute episode of bipolar disorder managed?
Secondary care specialists should manage it
Requires referral for urgent mental health assessment or hospital admission
How is an acute manic episode treated?
Antipsychotics (olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone or haloperidol) first line
Mood stabilisers
Lithium and sodium valproate
Existing antidepressants tapered and stopped