Bipolar Disorder I and II
Bipolar disorders are chronic conditions that involve recurrent episodes of depressive or manic symptoms and episodes of little to no symptoms. The disorders are largely heritable, meaning there it occurs more often in families and is not thought to be a result of environment alone. The onset typically begins during adolescence or early adulthood (Jann, 2014).
It is uncommon for Bipolar disorders to manifest for the first time in childhood or in older adulthood, and many neuroscientists believe that Bipolar Disorders are over diagnosed. The mania phase of Bipolar is characterized by high energy and excitement, delusions and over activity.
When people are in a ‘manic phase,’ they may talk fast, be impulsive, drive fast, spend money impulsively, be overly sexual, or have delusions that they are going to accomplish impossible things.
There are two subtypes to this disorder, Bipolar I and II.
Those with Bipolar I disorder experience episodes of both depression and mania whereas those with Bipolar II experience episodes and depression and hypomania. Hypomania is a milder form of mania. During hypomania, people may experience higher than normal energy levels but not as intense as mania and not severe enough to impair occupational or social functioning. Regardless of the type of Bipolar, people who suffer with the disorder usually experience depression about 3X more often than mania or hypomania (Jann, 2014).
Medication is a common treatment. Medications called mood stabilizers, antipsychotics or antidepressants are often prescribed to help improve symptoms. However, the largest challenge with individuals with Bipolar disorders is the failure to take medications consistently and this contributes to poorer outcomes in the long run (Jann 2014).
Risk for suicide is often greater in people with Bipolar Disorder and with older treatments, often a lifetime of management is necessary. Cutting-edge combinations of integrative care may be promising for better outcomes in the disorder and early diagnosis is often thought to be an important part of a better overall outcome.
Jann, M. W. (2014). Diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder in adults: A review of the evidence of pharmacologic treatment. American Health and Drug Benefits, 7(9), 489-499. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4296286/
What We Don’t Treat
We are not an emergency clinic. We are an outpatient provider so we do not have inpatient facilities. We are not a hospital and do not provide detox services for addictions. We do not treat schizophrenia or brain disorders related to advancing age such as dementia or Alzheimer’s. We are not contracted with any court system and do not provide court ordered services related to child custody or other matters.
ADHD affects 11% of school-age children (4-17) and symptoms continue into adulthood in more than 75% of children. Boys are over twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD (13.3%) compared to girls (5.6%)
Source: National Resource Center on ADHD