Bipolar disorder (bipolar disorder, formerly manic-depressive illness) is a mental disorder characterized by two separate illness periods. In one of these disease periods, there is exuberance (mania), and in the other, there is depression (depression). These two disease periods, which seem to be opposite to each other, progress with remissions and exacerbations. Except for periods of illness, the patient immediately returns to normal. Although some patients have residual symptoms that partially affect their daily life, patients recover. In the depressive period, there may be symptoms such as unhappiness, pessimism, hopelessness, decrease in self-confidence, feeling of worthlessness, exaggerated feelings of guilt or regret, inability to enjoy activities that he/she used to enjoy, loss of appetite or loss of appetite. Changes such as insomnia, thoughts of death and suicide, and unexplained pain in the body may occur. Symptoms of both periods such as increased energy, irritability, unhappiness, acceleration in speech, and thoughts of death can be seen.
The prevalence in the society is around 2-3%. The male-female ratio is equal and it starts in the twenties. For example, a person with bipolar disorder may experience manic episodes in the summer and depressive episodes in the winter. In general, a depressive episode may follow the manic episode. Sometimes these attacks may be accompanied by symptoms such as auditory hallucinations, delusions of being followed, and delusions of punishment. Sometimes, inpatient treatment in the psychiatry ward may be required during attacks. It includes getting away from the memories of the people, developing positive thinking and behaving skills, learning strategies for coping with stress, and having detailed information about the course of the disease. Bipolar disorder usually requires lifelong treatment.
People with bipolar disorder should be informed about the attacks of the disease and the person should be informed about the warning symptoms (inability to sleep, accelerated thoughts, mild tension, mild introversion, etc.) that may be the precursor of the attacks. In this case, he should be asked to apply before the control time and his treatment should be rearranged. Thus, the occurrence of an attack can be prevented or controlled with mild symptoms.
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