What are the different types of bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder, is a brain condition that causes changes in your mood and energy levels. These changes cycle between episodes of high and low energy.
The high-energy periods, called mania, and low-energy periods of depression vary in their severity and frequency, which is why there are several types of bipolar disorder:
Bipolar I disorder
Bipolar I disorder is diagnosed when you have at least one full-blown manic episode that’s severe and often requires inpatient treatment. You may experience major depression before your manic episode.
Bipolar II disorder
If you have bipolar II disorder, you have at least one hypomanic episode and one or more episodes of major depressive disorder.
Cyclothymic disorder
Cyclothymic disorder occurs when you have many mild episodes of hypomania and depression.
What symptoms might I have due to bipolar disorder?
The symptoms of full-blown mania and hypomania are the same, but hypomania is less severe. With hypomania, you may feel great, but your friends and family recognize the change in activity and mood. Having hypomania also increases your risk of developing full-blown mania.
The symptoms of mania include:
- Extreme energy
- High activity level
- Difficulty sleeping
- Rapid speech
- Racing thoughts
- Feeling irritable
- Participating in risky behaviors like overspending
The symptoms of depression include:
- Feeling sad or hopeless
- Low energy level
- Reduced activity
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Eating too much or too little
- Hard time concentrating
- Suicidal thoughts
It’s important to seek professional care when you notice symptoms of mania and depression. Bipolar disorder usually worsens when it goes untreated.
What is the role of ketamine in bipolar disorder?
The mood stabilizers used to treat bipolar disorder help with mania and depression. However, bipolar depression doesn’t always improve in response to medications. Ketamine infusions can often help when you have treatment-resistant bipolar depression.
When a low dose of ketamine is administered intravenously, the medication directly targets your brain, where it balances chemicals and improves nerve connections. As a result, your bipolar depression improves, often within several hours.
The team at Delaware Valley Wellness Center recommends a series of six ketamine infusions administered over two weeks. This series produces long-lasting symptom relief that only needs an occasional ketamine infusion to maintain your results.
If you experience treatment-resistant bipolar depression, call Delaware Valley Wellness Center or complete and submit the online questionnaire.
