| Bipolar I disorder | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Manic-depressive disorder, bipolar affective disorder |
| | |
| Image representation of mood instability in Bipolar I disorder | |
| Specialty | Psychiatry |
| Symptoms | Mood instability, psychosis in some cases |
| Complications | Suicide, self-harm |
| Usual onset | 15-25 years of age |
| Causes | Complex |
| Risk factors | Family history |
| Diagnostic method | By psychiatric evaluation |
| Differential diagnosis | Other bipolar disorders, borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder |
| Treatment | Pharmacotherapy such as mood stabilizers, antipsychotics; supplemental psychotherapy |
| Medication | Lithium, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics |
| Frequency | ~1% of the global population is affected |
| Deaths | 15-20% die by suicide [1] |
Bipolar I disorder (also referred to as BD-I or type one bipolar disorder) is a type of bipolar spectrum disorder characterized by the occurrence of at least one manic episode. [2] [3] Symptoms of bipolar I disorder typically begin at age 15-25 years of age, with depression being the most common initial symptom [4] . People may also have one or more depressive episodes. [5] Typically, manic episodes can last at least 7 days for most of each day to the extent that the individual may need medical attention, while the depressive episodes last at least 2 weeks. [6] The prevalence of bipolar disorders is about 1% worldwide. [7]
Bipolar I disorder is characterized by severe, recurrent mood changes and behavioral changes. [8] A manic episode is a key feature of bipolar I disorder and is required for diagnosis of bipolar I disorder. [9] Hypomanic episodes, major depressive episodes, and psychotic features may also be present but are not necessary for diagnosis. [9]
A manic episode is a distinct period of time, lasting at least 1 week and for most of the day, where an individual experiences persistent, irritable mood, and or persistent euphoria or elation that is disproportionately out of norm. [10] These symptoms are severe, and causes either significant impairment in an individual's life or require hospitalization. [10] Furthermore, these symptoms and changes are not caused by medications, illicit substances, or another medical condition. [10]
Similar to mania, hypomanic episodes involve distinct periods of time where an individual experiences persistent, increased energy, euphoria, elation, or irritable mood that is disproportionately out of norm. [9] They differ in severity of impairment and symptom duration. [9] A hypomanic episode lasts a minimum of 4 days in a row and for most of the day and does not require hospitalization or involve psychotic symptoms. [9]
A depressive episode involves depressed mood and/or anhedonia (lack of interest or pleasure) in addition to other symptoms of depression that lasts for at least 2 weeks. [9] Other symptoms of depression include unintentional weight changes, changes in appetite, sleep disruption (lack of sleep or excessive sleep), restlessness or slowness, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, and suicidal ideation. [9]
Most people with bipolar disorder experience psychosis during their lifetime, with one half to two-thirds of people experiencing it. [11] Symptoms of psychosis include delusions, hallucinations, or both. Delusions are more common than hallucinations in bipolar disorder. Psychotic symptoms occur more frequently during manic or mixed episodes. Having psychotic episodes indicates a more severe illness. People with psychosis have poor insight and more agitation, anxiety, and hostility. Psychotic symptoms are more common in bipolar type I compared to bipolar type II. [11]
Currently, there are no single, clear causes of bipolar disorder. [12] However, there are evidence that suggest there may be a genetic component that contribute to the development of bipolar disorder. [12] Studies from identical twins suggest that there is a 5-10% lifetime risk (about seven times greater compared to the general population) of developing bipolar disorder if there is a first-degree relative diagnosed with bipolar disorder. [12] Bipolar disorder appears to be more common in high-income countries compared to low-income countries, and higher rates of bipolar I disorder are seen in individuals that are separated, divorced, or widowed compared to those who are married or never married. [9]
The essential feature of bipolar I disorder is a clinical course characterized by the occurrence of one or more manic episodes or mixed episodes. [13] One episode of mania is sufficient to make the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Often, individuals have had one or more major depressive episodes and may or may not have a history of major depressive disorder. [14] Because depression is typically one of the first symptoms of bipolar disorders, the initial diagnosis of bipolar disorder may be delayed. [7]
Episodes of substance-induced mood disorder due to the direct effects of a medication, or other somatic treatments for depression, substance use disorder, or toxin exposure, or of mood disorder due to a general medical condition need to be excluded before a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder can be made. Bipolar I disorder requires confirmation of only 1 full manic episode for diagnosis, but may be associated with hypomanic and depressive episodes as well. [3] In contrast, diagnosis for bipolar II disorder does not include a full manic episode; instead, it requires the occurrence of both a hypomanic episode and a major depressive episode. [3] Serious aggression has been reported to occur in one out of every ten major, first-episode, BD-I patients with psychotic features, the prevalence in this group being particularly high in association with a recent suicide attempt, alcohol use disorder, learning disability, or manic polarity in the first episode. [15]
Bipolar I disorder often coexists with other disorders including PTSD, substance use disorders, and a variety of mood disorders. [16] [17] Studies suggest that psychiatric comorbidities correlate with further impairment of day-to-day life. [18] Up to 40% of people with bipolar disorder also present with PTSD, with higher rates occurring in women and individuals with bipolar I disorder. [16] A diagnosis of bipolar 1 disorder is only given if bipolar episodes are not better accounted for by schizoaffective disorder or superimposed on schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, delusional disorder, or a psychotic disorder not otherwise specified. [19]
Regular medical assessments are performed to rule-out secondary causes of mania and depression. [20] These tests include complete blood count, glucose, serum chemistry/electrolyte panel, thyroid function test, liver function test, renal function test, urinalysis, vitamin B12 and folate levels, HIV screening, syphilis screening, and pregnancy test, and when clinically indicated, an electrocardiogram (ECG), an electroencephalogram (EEG), a computed tomography (CT scan), and/or a magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) may be ordered. [20] Drug screening includes recreational drugs, particularly synthetic cannabinoids, and exposure to toxins.
| Dx code # | Disorder | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 296.0x | Bipolar I disorder | Single manic episode |
| 296.40 | Bipolar I disorder | Most recent episode hypomanic |
| 296.4x | Bipolar I disorder | Most recent episode manic |
| 296.5x | Bipolar I disorder | Most recent episode depressed |
| 296.6x | Bipolar I disorder | Most recent episode mixed |
| 296.7 | Bipolar I disorder | Most recent episode unspecified |
In May 2013, American Psychiatric Association released the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). There are several proposed revisions to occur in the diagnostic criteria of Bipolar I Disorder and its subtypes. For Bipolar I Disorder 296.40 (most recent episode hypomanic) and 296.4x (most recent episode manic), the proposed revision includes the following specifiers: with psychotic features, with mixed features, with catatonic features, with rapid cycling, with anxiety (mild to severe), with suicide risk severity, with seasonal pattern, and with postpartum onset. [21] Bipolar I Disorder 296.5x (most recent episode depressed) will include all of the above specifiers plus the following: with melancholic features and with atypical features. [21] The categories for specifiers will be removed in DSM-5 and criterion A will add or there are at least 3 symptoms of major depression of which one of the symptoms is depressed mood or anhedonia. [21] For Bipolar I Disorder 296.7 (most recent episode unspecified), the listed specifiers will be removed. [21]
The criteria for manic and hypomanic episodes in criteria A & B will be edited. Criterion A will include "and present most of the day, nearly every day", and criterion B will include "and represent a noticeable change from usual behavior". These criteria as defined in the DSM-IV-TR have created confusion for clinicians and need to be more clearly defined. [22] [23]
There have also been proposed revisions to criterion B of the diagnostic criteria for a Hypomanic Episode, which is used to diagnose For Bipolar I Disorder 296.40, Most Recent Episode Hypomanic. Criterion B lists "inflated self-esteem, flight of ideas, distractibility, and decreased need for sleep" as symptoms of a Hypomanic Episode. This has been confusing in the field of child psychiatry because these symptoms closely overlap with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). [22]
When evaluating an individual for bipolar I disorder, other psychiatric conditions that mimic or present with similar symptoms to bipolar I disorder must be considered. It is possible that some of these may be co-occurring with bipolar I disorder. [9]
Pharmacotherapy is the primary method of managing bipolar disorder, with multiple medications and combinations available. [24] Medications used may vary depending on the side effect profile and patient preference as well as the phase of bipolar disorder being managed (acute mania, bipolar depression, mixed states, or maintenance relapse prevention). [24]
A review of validated treatment guidelines for bipolar disorder by international bodies was published in 2020. [30]
Usage of antidepressants alone in the treatment of bipolar disorders is not recommended. [31] However, antidepressants may be used to supplement mood stabilizers or second-generation antipsychotics (adjuvant therapy). [32] [33] There has been concerns that usage of antidepressants may cause individuals to switch to mania (sometimes referred to as antidepressant-induced mania). [33] Current studies have not shown clear differences in significant risk of switching to mania between different antidepressants when compared to placebos. [33]
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), a type of brain stimulation therapy where seizures are electrically induced in anesthetized patients for therapeutic effect may be used for bipolar depression [34]
Patients with bipolar disorder may benefit from supplemental psychotherapy (such as cognitive behavioral therapy) in reducing recurrences and stabilizing depressive phases. [35] Interventions that target sleep regulation and mood monitoring, as well as efforts to reduce stigma, are beneficial in improving their quality of life. [24]
Patients with bipolar disorder may struggle with non-adherence to pharmacological treatment; long-acting injectable antipsychotics maybe beneficial with adherence to some patients. [36]
Bipolar I usually has a poor prognosis, which is associated with substance abuse, psychotic features, depressive symptoms, and inter-episode depression. [37] A manic episode can be so severe that it requires hospitalization. An estimated 63% of all BP-I related mania results in hospitalization. [38] The natural course of BP-I, if left untreated, leads to episodes becoming more frequent or severe over time. [39] The absolute risk of suicide is highest for BP-I than all other mood and mental disorders. [40] Approximately 15-20% of people with bipolar disorder die by suicide, with 30-60% making at least one attempt. [1] The attempts use more lethal means than those among the general population. [41] Individuals with BP-I typically have a shorter life expectancy compared to the general population, with estimates suggesting a reduction of 11 to 20 years. [42] With proper treatment, individuals with BP-I can, however, lead a healthy lifestyle. [43]
Psychosocial interventions can be used for managing acute depressive episodes and for maintenance treatment to aid in relapse prevention. [44] This includes psychoeducation, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), family-focused therapy (FFT), interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT), and peer support. [44]
Information on the condition, importance of regular sleep patterns, routines and eating habits and the importance of compliance with medication as prescribed. Behavior modification through counseling can have positive influence to help reduce the effects of risky behavior during the manic phase. Additionally, the lifetime prevalence for bipolar I disorder is estimated to be 1%, while bipolar spectrum disorder has been estimated to affect as much as 6% of people. [45]
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