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Bipolar

Manic Depression or Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder involving a cycle of extreme ups and downs. Moods of extreme elation—mania—follow moods of depression. Persons experiencing mania often lack any need for sleep and act out of an exaggerated sense of self.

Do Parents with Bipolar Disorder Breed Creativity?

by Kevin Mathews on June 17, 2010
Play dough game

Tortured artists not only create great art, but also children who are prone to be similarly tormented artists.  Psychiatry experts at Stanford University determined that parents with bipolar disorder are likely to pass creativity along to their offspring.  Previously, researchers noticed that people with bipolar disorder tend to be highly creative, but by exploring familial connections, this study marks the first detection of a probable genetic link between creativity and bipolar disorder. The study followed 40 family units that included at least one parent diagnosed with bipolar disorder, as well …

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Understanding Bipolar Disorders 1 & 2

by FYI Staff Writer on January 24, 2010

Bipolar disorders 1 and 2 are mood influencing mental disorders affecting almost 5 million Americans. Those who suffer from bipolar mood disorder experience extreme emotional fluctuations, often cycling rapidly back and forth between mania and depression, a condition that may last throughout their lives. However, many people with this disorder have been able to overcome the limitations of this disease to make remarkable achievements in different fields of life. People with bipolar disorder undergo extreme mood swings. The terms happiness and sadness are insufficient to describe the mental highs and …

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Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

by Lorne Cansler on January 22, 2010

Bipolar Disorder symptoms, formerly known as Manic Depression symptoms, consist of Major Depressive Episodes as well as Manic Episodes or milder Hypomanic Episodes. Like many other mental health professionals, when I see a new client who reports symptoms of depression, I also screen for Bipolar Disorder. Unless mental health clients are aware of the symptoms of Bipolar Mania, they are more likely to report only their depressive symptoms. An accurate diagnosis is essential in order to receive the proper treatment. Therefore, recognizing the symptoms and signs of Bipolar Disorder and …

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Can I Take a Bipolar Disorder Test?

by FYI Staff Writer on January 22, 2010

Bipolar disorder causes mood swings ranging from manic, active states to low, depressive states that can vary widely between patients. Like most mental health disorders, there is no definitive Bipolar Disorder Test consisting of a blood test or other medical laboratory test to diagnose this condition. Lab work is often used in diagnostics to rule out other physiological causes for symptoms, but they cannot detect the disorder. Instead, doctors determine the presence of the illness through a variety of bipolar screening tests and questionnaires. Several diagnostic tools are used to …

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Managing Bipolar Disorder – A Comprehensive Treatment Plan is Most Successful

by Irene McGee on January 22, 2010

Bipolar Disorder is a chronic illness that will recur over a person’s lifetime if not treated continuously.  As with any long-term condition, it is vitally important to continue treatment even if the symptoms disappear. Proper diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder is the first step in seeking treatment for this debilitating disease.  Most people think that “manic-depressive” is the authoritative definition of Bipolar disorder but there are actually three types of the Disorder. Bipolar I Disorder with intense mania and major depression is the most well-known and severe type. Bipolar II Disorder …

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