|
Q. What is bipolar disorder?
<top>
A.
Bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depressive illness) is
a severe biological disorder that affects approximately 1 –
5 % of the adult population. Persons suffering from bipolar
disorder have mood swings that are out of proportion, or totally
unrelated, to things going on in their lives. Although bipolar
disorder is clearly a biological disease, there are no laboratory
tests or other procedures that a doctor can use to make a definitive
diagnosis. Instead, the doctor diagnoses the illness based on
a group of symptoms that occur together accompanied by impairment
in activities of daily living.
In contrast to unipolar depression, which involves an abnormal
lowering of the mood, bipolar disorder is a disease in which a
person’s mood changes in cycles over time. It involves both abnormal
lowering of the mood and abnormal mood elevation. People who suffer
from bipolar disorder experience periods of elevated mood, periods
of depressed mood and periods when their mood is normal.
Q. What
is mood elevation? <top>
A. The periods of abnormal
mood elevation associated with bipolar disorder are called mania
and hypomania. Mania may begin as a pleasurable sense of heightened
energy, creativity and social ease. However, these feelings
may quickly progress to euphoria or extreme irritability. Persons
experiencing a manic episode may find that because thinking
is overly positive and judgment is impaired, actions are not
evaluated thoroughly and negative financial, career and relationship
consequences may result.
Hypomania is a milder form of mania that has
similar but less severe symptoms than mania and causes less
impairment. During a hypomanic episode, a person may have an
elevated mood, feel better than usual and be highly productive.
However, hypomania can rarely be maintained and is often followed
by an escalation into mania or a crash into depression.
Q. What
are the different patterns of bipolar disorder? <top>
A. People with bipolar
disorder vary in the types of episodes they usually have and
how often they become ill. Some individuals have equal numbers
of manic and depressive episodes; others have mostly one type
or the other. Some individuals recover completely between episodes,
while others cycle continuously. Episodes can last days, months,
or sometimes years. Without treatment, most people will eventually
experience more frequent and severe episodes.
Q. What
causes bipolar disorder? <top>
A. Bipolar disorder is
likely caused by multiple factors that interact with each other.
Although there is no single, proven cause, research suggests
that it is the result of abnormalities in the way some nerve
cells in the brain function or communicate. Whatever the precise
nature of the biochemical problem underlying bipolar disorder,
it makes people with the disorder more vulnerable to emotional
and physical stressors. As a result, upsetting life experiences,
substance use, lack of sleep, or other stressors may trigger
episodes of illness, even though these stressors do not actually
cause the illness.
Q. Is bipolar
disorder inherited? <top>
A. Bipolar disorder tends
to run in families. But like other complex inherited disorders,
the illness only occurs in a fraction of the individuals at
genetic risk. In an individual with one bipolar parent, there
is a 1 in 7 chance that he or she will develop the disorder.
This risk may increase if there are a number of other relatives
with bipolar disorder or depression.
Q. How
is bipolar disorder treated? <top>
A. The recommended treatment
for bipolar disorder is a combination of medication, education
and therapy.
Medication is usually prescribed initially to
treat an episode of mania, hypomania or depression and this
medication is then continued on a long-term basis to prevent
future episodes. The main medications used for controlling bipolar
disorder are mood stabilizers, however, antidepressants, antipsychotics,
and antianxiety medications may also be used. These medications
are used individually or in combination. Other medications may
be used to treat individual symptoms.
Education and therapy are also critical tools
to help patients learn how to manage the illness and prevent
its complications.
Q. What
is a clinical research study? <top>
A. A clinical research
study answers specific questions about therapies, explores new
ways of using known treatments and determines treatment safety
and effectiveness in humans.
Q. Who
can participate in a clinical research study? <top>
A. Each clinical research
study has a protocol that outlines the study criteria for participation.
Study criteria may include (but are not limited to) age, medical
history, disease type, and current medications. Just because
you may not be eligible for a currently enrolling research study
does not mean you do not have bipolar disorder or another type
of mood disorder, and you should seek alternative forms of care
if your symptoms are troublesome and we do not have a study
design for you to participate in.
Q. What
are the potential benefits of clinical research study participation?
<top>
A. You may not receive
any medical benefit if you agree to take part in a clinical
research study. It is possible that the study treatment to which
you are assigned may improve your symptoms. Because study visits
occur on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, your symptoms will be
under close supervision by the study doctor throughout your
study participation, which may provide some medical benefit,
but there is no guarantee of this. The information from this
scientific research study may prove beneficial in the future
to others who have the same medical condition as you do. Additionally,
you have the opportunity to educate yourself about bipolar disorder
and treatment.
Q. What
are the potential risks of clinical research study participation?
<top>
A. When you begin to
take new medications, there is a risk that an allergic reaction
may occur. Such reactions may be serious or fatal. If you suffer
from allergies to other medications, food products, or environmental
elements, you should tell your study doctor. Because you may
stop psychiatric medications that you have been taking prior
to study participation, or because you may receive placebo,
there is a risk that the symptoms of your illness will worsen.
There is also a possibility that the medication being used in
the study may not be effective in treating your condition.
Q. Do
I need insurance to participate? How much will this cost me?
<top>
A. The visits within
a clinical research study are at no cost to you. Your insurance
will not be billed for your visits during your research participation.
Study medication and study-related tests will be provided to
you at no cost. You will still be responsible for any health
care you receive which is outside of the study.
Q. What
protection is offered to clinical research study participants?
<top>
A. The federal government
imposes strict guidelines and safety standards to protect clinical
trial research participants. An Institutional Review Board (IRB),
an independent committee of health care professionals and community
lay persons, is responsible for ensuring that clinical research
is both scientifically and ethically sound. For general information
regarding the safety standards and ethical review of research
studies you may visit the University Hospitals Institutional
Review Board website here.
|
