Understanding bipolar disorder

Bipolar is commonly called manic depression, explains HealthMaker Jeffrey Borenstein, MD, a psychiatrist at The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. In this video, he elaborates on the ups and downs of the mood disorder.

Transcript

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And they sometimes can become psychotic with hallucinations, with delusions if untreated.

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The good news about bipolar disorder is that we have excellent treatments for that condition. [SOOTHING MUSIC]

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Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that commonly is referred to as manic depression.

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And in this mood disorder, people will experience episodes of depression,

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and episodes of mania, or hypomania, depending on the type of the bipolar illness that they have.

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And the episodes of depression look very much like what we call a clinical depression,

00:50

a major depression. But the person also has periods where they're very up, where they become manic, where they

00:57

have a high level of energy. They may go on spending sprees. They may act out sexually or want to act out sexually.

01:05

They-- and they sometimes can become psychotic with hallucinations, with delusions if untreated.

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[SOOTHING MUSIC] The good news about bipolar disorder is that we have excellent treatments for that condition.

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So people with bipolar disorder with treatment can live full, healthy lives.

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And many people do. [AUDIO LOGO]