So You’ve Been Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder
Brian Cook's article, hand-picked by the editors of MinD, serves as an excellent basic primer for those newly diagnosed with Bipolar or Manic Depression. Also check out the other essays available on MinD's Bipolar article index page.
What is Bipolar II?
How does Bipolar II disorder differ from Bipolar I? Check out this BP II FAQ from About.com's Bipolar section.
The Difference between Bipolar Disorder & Borderline Personality Disorder
The relationship between these two much misunderstood and oft mis-diagnosed personality disorders. From Bipolar World.net's "Ask the Doctor", J Phelps, MD. Phelps hosts another site worth checking out: PsychEducation.org.
Brief History of Bipolar
A simple but fact-filled article from Caregiver.com Magazine gives the history of Bipolar Disorder, "perhaps one of the oldest known illnesses", starting in the second century and leading up to the present day.
Gaps Exist in Public's Understanding of Bipolar Disorder
An article from Planetpsych.com discusses a significant lack of understanding and factual information in the public's perceptions and attitudes.
What Causes Bipolar Disorder?
Scientists are learning about the possible causes of bipolar disorder through several kinds of studies. Most people with bipolar disorder - even those with the most severe forms - can achieve substantial stabilization of their mood swings and related symptoms with proper treatment.
The Impact of Child Abuse on the Clinical Course of Bipolar
Childhood sexual abuse may increase the risk of suicide attempts in adults with Bipolar Disorder. An article from The British Journal of Psychiatry, published by The Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Childhood Abuse Worsens Bipolar Disorder Severity
Study findings show that people with Bipolar Disorder who have a history of childhood abuse are likely to have a more severe disease course than Bipolars without such a history. An article from PatientHealthInternational.com.
Delaying Treatment of Childhood Bipolar Has Negative Impact Later
In bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive disorder, a person experiences mood changes that fluctuate between periods of abnormally high energy and extreme depression. Bipolar disorder is estimated to affect approximately 1-3% of adults, but also can affect children and adolescents. Untreated, this disorder is associated with greater risk of drug and alcohol addiction, of interpersonal relationship difficulties, of school and, later, work problems, of engaging in risky behaviors, and of suicide. A study published in The Journal of Pediatrics shows that childhood-onset bipolar disorder is more common than believed and often goes unrecognized and untreated for long periods of time, leading to lower quality of life and greater difficulty in treatment.
Bipolar Disorder & Addiction Treatment
Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic-depression, has been romanticized for decades as the creative fuel for many artists, writers, musicians, actors and high powered entrepreneurs. In fact, it is a serious mental disorder that causes shifts in mood, energy and behavior and is associated with an increased risk for suicide. During the manic phase, people often experience one or more of these signs and symptoms: spending sprees, increased sex drive, abuse of drugs, problems concentrating, restlessness, extreme irritability, racing thoughts, inflated ideas about ones' abilities and an excessively euphoric mood. During the depressive phase, people often experience: sadness, anxious or empty mood, feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest, decreased energy or fatigue, sleeping too much or insomnia, difficulty concentrating and thoughts of suicide. Without proper treatment, this tends to worsen over time. In this intriguing essay, Bipolar Disorder: Getting off the Rollercoaster, read about the co-morbidity between Bipolar Disorder and addiction/compulsive risk-taking. Written by Liz Cervio, Clinical Director of the Life Healing Center of Santa Fe.
Alcoholism and Bipolar Disorder
The temptation to have just one more drink may be too great for women with bipolar disorder. Research has found that they are seven times more likely to suffer from alcoholism than other women. Bipolar men are at risk too; they are three times more likely to suffer from alcoholism than other men. A Psychology Today article by Colin Allen.
Self-Medicating
The tendency for those with bipolar disorder to use street drugs and alcohol as a form of self-medication is a very real issue. Learn more in this article from About.com's Bipolar Disorder Section which offers this and other articles, news on treatments, a free newsletter, a discussion forum and much more. Well worth exploring.
Bipolar Disorder & Alcohol Abuse
When people with Bipolar use alcohol to self-medicate, they place themselves at risk for a whole new set of problems. Published by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism (NIAAA).
Family Therapy May Aid Recovery From Manic Depression
Researchers say people with Manic Depression may be more likely to recover and have fewer hospital stays if family members get therapy involving communication, problem-solving and other areas that can be strained when family member has the disease. An article from the Health section of The New York Times.
Bipolar Spectrum Disorder May Be Under-recognized & Improperly Treated
A new study supports earlier estimates of the prevalence of bipolar disorder in the US population, and suggests the illness may be more accurately characterized as a spectrum disorder. The same study also finds that many people with the illness are often times not receiving appropriate treatment for their condition.
Ask the Expert on Bipolar Disorder
Read archived responses given by Dr Ronald Pies (a clinical professor at Tufts University and popular Psychiatric Times columnist) to consumer inquiries on bipolar disorder.
New Research Explains Lithium’s Dual Anti-Manic/Anti-Depressive Effect
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin Medical School have solved the puzzle of how lithium effectively stabilizes both the wild euphoria and the crushing melancholy that are the hallmark of manic depression, or bipolar disorder. An article from the Doctor's Guide website.
Drugs for Bipolar
From the Expert Consensus Guideline Series: Medication Treatment of Bipolar Disorder. An abstract and informational links created by the Partners Bipolar Treatment Center, Massachusetts General Hospital. An incredibly thorough look at the medications most frequently used to treat Bipolar, including suggested nutritional sources.
Long-Term Therapy Effective in Bipolar Depression
New research suggests that psychotherapy is more effective than short-term treatment for alleviating depression associated with Bipolar disease. A 2007 article from The New York Times by Nicholas Bakalar.
Antidepressants: No Help With Bipolar
Although the USFDA has never officially given its approval, many physicians treat Bipolar by prescribing a combination of an antidepressant and a mood stabilizer. But in a 2007 article from The New England Journal of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital reported a study that antidepressants seem to have little effect on the disorder.
Weight Gain with Bipolar Treatment
Bipolar patients taking mood sometimes find themselves gaining weight. Read more in this research summary from MentalHelp.net's Bipolar Disorder Info Center.
Bipolar Self Care
After being diagnosed, taking medications or undergoing medication trials, and seeing a therapist, Bipolars discover that there are other things that may assist with this disorder. An article from the Mental Health Sanctuary site.
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About.com:Bipolar Disorder
Readers discussion forum, articles, resources links, info in treatments & FDA approved medications, a free newsletter, information on everything from family concerns to legal issues, personal stories, book recommendations and more.
Alumbo! Bipolar Disorder Community
This unmoderated online community offers consumers articles and news about bipolar disorder, links to resources, an online store, discussion forums and more. Free membership.
BipolarConnect.com
Offers info for those recently diagnosed Bipolar, a newsletter, an Ask the Expert blog, articles, online quizzes, info about clinical trials, that focus on Bipolar, news, a kind of blog/journal function called a "sharepost" and more. Registration is free.
Bipolar Disorders Information Center
This site includes a bipolar newsletter, links to online resources, information on clinical treatment, and notes on conferences and symposia on the disorder.
Bipolar Disorder Today
An online social networking support community, BD Today features info links, a newsletter, an online bookstore, info on the DSM IV and articles and news about Bipolar research. There's also an e-library, a link to help find a therapist, online spiritual support, and other Bipolar related links. Membership is free.
Bipolar Genetics Collaboration
The web site for the National Bipolar Genetics Collaboration is for people interested in learning more about Bipolar Disorder, which is also commonly called Manic-Depression. On this site, consumers will find useful information about Bipolar Disorder for people with the disorder as well as their friends and families. In addition, it also includes information about the NBGC's collaborative genetics research study being carried on at major research universities across the US- a study that enlists the help of families from all across the United States and Canada. There are also some links to other bipolar sites on the web.
Bipolar Hope
An info site aimed at bringing consumers information to help them cope more effectively with and better understand Bipolar Disorder. Features include a message board, recommended books about Bipolar and links to other online Bipolar educational resources.
Bipolar Sanctuary
Part of the online Mental Health Sanctuary, this site has an article archive, the latest news, books, research, a newsletter, an online support community, family section, clinician's forum, and more. Registration is free.
BipolarSupport.org
An online info and support community with recommended books, links to find help and links to their supportive forums and chat rooms. There's even a place to keep a private journal and a free mood chart in our downloads section. Membership is free.
BipolarTreatment.com
An neat little site from HealthPages.com featuring info about Bipolar symptoms types, causes, of patient groups, medication, coping strategies, finding a doctor and extensive info and various approaches to treatment- including herbal.
Bipolar World
The Bipolar World online support community offers educational info and social networking, an Ask the Doctor feature, relationship advice, information about Bipolar self-injury, personal stories, a regular column with archive, and a section for family members. Registration is free.
Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance
Free information on depression and bipolar disorder as well as listings to over 1000 patient support groups across the country. Be sure to check out their "DBSA's Real Recovery Podcasts", a bi-weekly conversation dealing with the challenges of living with, and successfully managing, mood disorders.
DepressionTribe.com
The next great leap forward in online support. With IM, chat, photo, video and music capabilities, a friends list, profile page and member search, DepressionTribe offers online socializing to Uni and Bipolar Depressives. The site has a cool look, many of the features web-savvy consumers have come to enjoy in other online community sites and offers free membership.
HealthyPlace.com Bipolar Disorder Center
HP's Bipolar Community features a vast array of cool features for members including online tests and mood charts, treatment information, articles and personal stories on living with Bipolar Disorder and more. Registration to the community is free of charge. HealthyPlace.com is the largest consumer mental health site, providing comprehensive information on psychological disorders and psychiatric medications from both a consumer and expert point of view.
International Society for Bipolar Disorders
The ISBD is an educational activist organization that promotes awareness of Bipolar Disorder by educating mental health professionals, fostering research on all aspects of Bipolar Disorder and encouraging Bipolar experts in different nations to collaborate.
Manic Depressive Disorder
Part of the amazing Depression-guide.com, this page offers articles, info links, personal blogs, support communities online, resources for help, a look at the latest treatments and medications, articles and more.
Mental Help Net: Bipolar Disorder
An intensive site that includes a wealth of information via fact sheets, articles and professional blogs, listings of online communities, info-line numbers, medication information, online testing and questionnaires and more. A large and varied resource.
MD Junction
An online Bipolar community. Membership comes with a Bipolar glossary, articles, forums, an onsite journal, onsite messaging mailbox, group discussion forums and more. No charge for joining.
Moodswing.org: Bipolar Focus
Bipolar Focus is a web community dedicated to providing high quality information, support and education to individuals with bipolar disorder. The site is non-profit and managed by a group of volunteers and contractors around the world - all of whom are either family members of bipolar individuals or people who have bipolar disorder themselves. Membership is free.
Pendulum.org
Since 1994 Pendulum.org has been the web's premier resource for bipolar information.
The Pendulum discussion Forums have been updated, including an expanded section for friends and family. The site also offers consumers news, online socializing, chat style discussion, information on bipolar and its treatments and more.
Psych Central: Bipolar Disorder
Starts out with an easy-to read but in-depth article covering the symptomologies of both Bipolar I and II (including info on Hypomanic, Mixed and Major Depressive episodes and related differential diagnoses). This main page is linked to information on different populations effected by Bipolar, information about medication & treatment options, an index of online supports, personal sites, articles, news about research, clinical trials and more.
The Bipolar Support Group
A great non-commercial site that features include online chat, discussion forums, personal profiles with "Add a Friend" options (like MySpace.com), community submitted links and absolutely no advertising. If visitors want to check out the chat, there's an option to sign in temporarily as a guest. Membership is free. A beautifully-designed social networking support community.
The Icarus Project
By and for people struggling with manic depression, the Icarus Project is somewhere between a live and online social networking community and a national art activism movement. Their website explains their mission as "a wild collaborative adventure bringing together an unruly band of co-conspirators from near and far. We want you to find a place to fit in and join us, whether it's sharing your experiences of madness on our community forums, donating money, organizing a community group, or anything you can dream up." The site features resources, an online community, treatment information, art, writing, online journals, a gallery and more.
Support4Hope.com: Bipolar Disorder
The Bipolar section of the support site Support4Hope.com, this area is dedicated to support of various mental health issues and the problems that arise from them. It also addresses off-topic issues such as Domestic Abuse. |
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