BIPOLAR MOOD DISORDER

As the morning sun bathed the great Nairobi`s skyline in amber, the city center was alive with birds flying artistically over well-designed architectural skycrapers. I pulled over my petrol-guzzling jeep, to grab some coffee. I greedily sipped some coffee and continued with the rest of my journey, to meet a psychiatrist; DR. Edgar Munga, a renowned lecturer at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). It was on the eve of the yearly world bipolar day celebrations (March 29th) and being a passionate medical scientist, I wanted to know all about Bipolar Mood Disorder and my lively professional interaction with him satisfied my quest for the knowledge.

Bipolar Mood Disorder also known as manic depression, is a mental illness that brings severe high and low moods; as well as changes in sleeping patterns, energy, thinking and behavior. There are several types of bipolar disorder which include:

Bipolar I Disorder: It involves periods of severe mood episodes from mania to depression.

Bipolar II Disorder: It is a milder form of mood elevation, involving milder episodes of hypomania that alternate with periods of severe depression.

Cyclothymic Disorder: It describes brief periods of hypomanic symptoms alternating with brief periods of depressive symptoms that are not extensive

Mixed Episode: Features unique to both depression and mania (e.g. despair, fatigue, morbid, racing thoughts) occur either simultaneously or in very short succession.

The real cause of Bipolar Mood Disorder has not yet been understood. However, factors such as genetics, environment and brain chemistry play a role. Bipolar Mood Disorder may require diagnosis which pertains critical analysis of manic and depressive episodes. Manic episodes may include symptoms such as high energy, reduced need for sleep and psychosis (loss of touch with reality). Depressive episodes may include low energy, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, suicidal thoughts.

There are treatment and therapy that help in stabilizing the moods and improving one`s behavior.

Medications include: Anticovasculants, Antipsychotic and Selective Seretonin Reuptake Inhibitor.

Therapies include: Stress inoculation therapy, Cognitive behavioral therapy and family therapy.

I wish everyone with Bipolar Mood Disorder all the best in their future endeavors

“Happy World Bipolar day to all.”

(March 30th)