Bipolar disorder causes unpredictable mood swings, disrupting daily life. Research into the causes, effects, and treatment plans is ongoing, focusing on genetics, brain activity, medications, and therapy techniques. No single drug has been shown to be exceptional in treating large populations of bipolar patients.
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes sudden and unpredictable mood swings and episodes of intense mania and depression. Individuals suffering from the disorder often experience extreme changes in mood, behavior and activity levels, disrupting everyday life and making it difficult to maintain jobs and relationships. The causes, effects, and treatment plans for bipolar disorder are not well understood in the medical world, but research into bipolar disorder is ongoing to learn more about the disease and possibly discover a cure. Most current bipolar research focuses on cognitive development, genetics, disorder diagnosis, medications, and behavioral therapy techniques.
Many psychologists, medical researchers and neuroscientists investigate the causes of bipolar disorder by analyzing brain activity and genetic influences. Researchers use positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines to monitor brain waves and detect changes in activity in patients with bipolar disorder. By comparing PET and MRI scans to those performed on normal brains, researchers can identify physiological and chemical discrepancies in bipolar patients.
Genetics are believed to play a significant role in the development of bipolar disorder, and scientists are attempting to pinpoint genes related to the disease. Most researchers believe that bipolar disorder and other mental conditions are directly linked to inherited genetic material that predisposes individuals to develop problems. Scientists use information from intensive bipolar genetic research and longitudinal family and population studies to draw conclusions about the prevalence of the disease and predict who will be affected.
Ongoing bipolar research is being conducted into different types of medications that can provide relief to people with the condition. Pharmacologists and researchers perform laboratory and clinical studies of mood-stabilizing drugs like lithium and antidepressants like fluoxetine, in hopes of finding the best balance of chemicals to ease symptoms. No single drug has been shown to be exceptional in treating large populations of bipolar patients, and doctors may be prescribing many different experimental drugs to their patients.
Many psychological institutions engage in bipolar research on behavior therapy and psychotherapy techniques. Clinical trials are being conducted to determine the most effective means of teaching individuals to consciously alter their thought and behavior patterns as a means of reducing the severity and likelihood of mood swings. Interpersonal therapy strategies are designed to determine social techniques that patients can use to improve their relationships with friends, family, and colleagues. Finally, the research psychologists hope that psychotherapy, in which clients are given the opportunity to discuss their family struggles and histories, will be helpful in predicting future episodes and preventing sudden outbursts.
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