The brain’s neurotransmitters can cause an individual to feel elated one minute and gloomy the next. Previously called manic depression, bipolar disorder is a type of depression that involves sporadic episodes of depression and mania.
A manic episode is marked with hyperactive behavior. On the contrary, the depressive episode typically involves periods of lethargy, pessimism, and loss of interest in everything. Medicinally, the manic phase requires tranquilizers and drugs that soothe, and the depressive episode requires mood elevators or antidepressants.
It is clear that the condition can become critical if the mood elevating drugs are continued once the manic phase sets in. This becomes extremely critical if the two phases occur and reoccur rapidly without any indication of their onset. Treating Depression, specifically bipolar disorder, therefore necessitates closer medical supervision than any other cases of major depression.
Treating bipolar disorder only with antidepressants can increase the frequency of shifting from manic phase to depressive phase and back. Misguided treatment can actually cause suicidal tendencies to occur. A fine balance needs to be maintained between the level of Antidepressant and mood stabilizers for appropriate treatment.
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