Neuron Ring's Blog

What is Bipolar Disorder ?

Bipolar Disorder is a state of manic depression. This is also called as bipolar affective disorder.

This is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. If this disease is left untreated it may lead to suicide.

Bipolar disorder starts to develop in a individual’s late teens or early adult years. At least half of all cases start before age 25. Some people have their first symptoms during childhood, while others may develop symptoms late in life. 

 

 

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

The symptoms include most of the mental characteristics. This may look normal at the beginning. It will take a longer time to diagnose the disease. This disease accompanies two phases.

1. Manic Phase

2. Depressive Phase 

 

 

Symptoms of Depressive Phase

Sadness

Hopelessness

Suicidal thoughts or behavior

Guilt

Appetite problems

Loss of interest in daily activities

Symptoms of Manic Phase

Extreme optimism

Poor judgment

Rapid speech

Increased drive to perform or achieve goals

Tendency to be easily distracted

Decreased need for sleep

Types of Bipolar Disorder

The Bipolar disorder is classified into 3 important types. Utmost 4 types. They are

1. Bipolar I disorder – The person must had at least one manic episode with or without previous episodes of depression.

2. Bipolar II disorder – The person should have get affected by at least one episode of depression and at least one hypomanic episode.

Hypomanic Episode: This is similar to manic depression but not severe lasts only for few days.

This results in irritability in mood, some changes in character, but it will not affect the normal day t to day activities.

            3. Cyclothymia -  This is a very mild bipolar disorder. This has high and low mood swings. But not much s severe as in the case of manic depression.

Causes of Bipolar Disorder

It is not possible to point out specific cause for this. The reasons may include the daily living environment or from the persons we have relationship with.

Biochemical factors: This is also due to the unexpected physical changes in Brain. There are brain chemicals called Neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters are tied to mood. Scientists believe these chemicals also can cause this disorder.

Genes: Bipolar disorder may also happen due to the heredity problems by the transfer of genes to the offspring’s. So it Is a genetic disorder too.

Environment: Environment also is thought to play a causal role in some way. Environmental causes may include problems with self-esteem, significant loss or high stress.

Preventing Bipolar disorder

There is no proper way to prevent this disease. One should take care of his mental health. Treatment in earlier stage of symptoms will reduce the risk of getting manic depression.

Treatment for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder normally requires life long treatment. Even in the course of the treatment you may feel good. But it is still recommended to continue the treatment.

Medications for Bipolar Disorder

Medications are the important treatment for Bipolar disorder. Medications for Bipolar disorder can cause serious side effects. But the side effects are not in the majority case. They are observed rarely.

Mood stabilizers

Lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid) is used as major mood stabilizer in the treatment. This help in keeping the mood in

control so that it will not swing between depression and mania. Consulting your doctor is recommended before taking medication and continuing it.

Anti-seizure medications

Medicines, such as valproic acid (Depakene), divalproex (Depakote) and lamotrigine (Lamictal), are widely used as mood regulators. These are also called as anticonvulsants.

Antidepressants

Use of antidepressants in bipolar disorder, although once common, is now controversial.Cognitive behavioral therapy

Psychotherapy for Bipolar Disorder

The focus of cognitive behavioral therapy is identifying unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replacing them with healthy, positive ones.

Family therapy

Family therapy involves you and your family members. Family therapy can help identify and reduce stress within your family. It can help your family improve its communication style and problem-solving skills and resolve conflicts.

Group therapy

Group therapy provides a forum to communicate with and learn from others in a similar situation. It may also help build better relationship skills.

Regards,
R.Gopinath

  The most threatening disease of the Year 2009 is 

“Swine flu”

The Swine flu has been declared as pandemic disease by WHO(World Health Orgnanization). Multiple new cases of a new strain of Swine flu (Swine Influenza A, H1N1) have been reported in Mexico and in the United States. Multiple deaths have been reported to the World Health Organization, currently assessing the accuracy of the incoming reports.

Swine Flu in Pigs

How does swine flu spread among pigs?
Swine flu viruses are thought to be spread mostly through close contact among pigs and possibly from contaminated objects moving between infected and uninfected pigs. Herds with continuous swine flu infections and herds that are vaccinated against swine flu may have sporadic disease, or may show only mild or no symptoms of infection.

What are signs of swine flu in pigs?
Signs of swine flu in pigs can include sudden onset of fever, depression, coughing (barking), discharge from the nose or eyes, sneezing, breathing difficulties, eye redness or inflammation, and going off feed.

How common is swine flu among pigs?
H1N1 and H3N2 swine flu viruses are endemic among pig populations in the United States and something that the industry deals with routinely. Outbreaks among pigs normally occur in colder weather months (late fall and winter) and sometimes with the introduction of new pigs into susceptible herds. Studies have shown that the swine flu H1N1 is common throughout pig populations worldwide, with 25 percent of animals showing antibody evidence of infection. In the U.S. studies have shown that 30 percent of the pig population has antibody evidence of having had H1N1 infection. More specifically, 51 percent of pigs in the north-central U.S. have been shown to have antibody evidence of infection with swine H1N1. Human infections with swine flu H1N1 viruses are rare. There is currently no way to differentiate antibody produced in response to flu vaccination in pigs from antibody made in response to pig infections with swine H1N1 influenza.

While H1N1 swine viruses have been known to circulate among pig populations since at least 1930, H3N2 influenza viruses did not begin circulating among US pigs until 1998. The H3N2 viruses initially were introduced into the pig population from humans. The current swine flu H3N2 viruses are closely related to human H3N2 viruses.

Is there a vaccine for swine flu?
Vaccines are available to be given to pigs to prevent swine influenza. There is no vaccine to protect humans from swine flu. The seasonal influenza vaccine will likely help provide partial protection against swine H3N2, but not swine H1N1 viruses. 

Swine Flu in Humans

Causes of Swine Flu

Spread of Swine Flu (transmission methods)

Like other normal illness and flu, the Swine Flu caused by H1N1 virus takes the usual transmisson mode.

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Kissing
• Touching infected objects
• Touching nose, mouth and/or eyes with infected hands

Symptoms of  Swine flu

• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Lethargy
• Coughing
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lack of appetite

Diagnosis And Treatment Of Swine Flu

1. A respiratory sample collected within the first five days of illness will be collected.
2. The sample is sent to the CDC for laboratory analysis and confirmation.

At this time the CDC is recommending the use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza) for treatment and/or prevention of Swine flu.

Prevention of Swine Flu

• Covering nose and mouth with a tissue upon coughing and sneezing followed by proper disposal of the tissue.
• Avoiding contact with ill persons.
• Avoiding the urge to touch nose, mouth and eyes in general.
• Staying home form work and/or school upon onset and for the duration of symptoms.
• Assuring adequate and thorough handwashing and use of alcohol based hand cleansers (in the absence of proper handwashing facilities).
• Providing tissues in common areas of homes, common and public areas.
• Encouraging pursuit of medical evaluation at earliest onset of symptoms.
• Use of masks to those who are exhibiting symptoms or who are ill.
• Maintenance of a 3 to 6 foot perimeter around a coughing patient.

Calm analysis coupled with accurate and proper public education is the key to identifying, treating and minimizing a worldwide outbreak.

Regards,
R.Gopinath

Source: CDC Swine Flu Information

Definition

Dissociation is a mental process in which there is a lack of connection in thoughts, memories, feelings, actions or identity. While dissociating, certain information is not associated with other information as it normally would be.

Some believe that dissociation exists on a continuum ranging from daydreaming to Dissociative Identity Disorder at the other.

Multiple personality disorder (MPD)

This is a psychiatricdisorder characterized by having at least one “alter” personality that controls behavior. The “alters” are said to occur spontaneously and involuntarily, and function more or less independently of each other.

The unity of consciousness, by which we identify our selves, is said to be absent in MPD.

Symptoms

1. The patient has at least two distinct identities or personality states. Each of these has its own, relatively lasting pattern of sensing, thinking about and relating to self and environment.
2. At least two of these personalities repeatedly assume control of the patient’s behavior.
3. Common forgetfulness cannot explain the patient’s extensive inability to remember important personal information.
4. This behavior is not directly caused by substance use (such as alcoholic blackouts) or by a general medical condition.
5. Episodes of amnesia or time loss (i.e.: don’t remember people, places, etc.)
6. Often they are depressed or suicidal

Research Says:  85% of MPD patients are female

Depersonalization disorder

This disorder is characterized by a sudden sense of being outside yourself, observing your actions from a distance as though watching a movie.

It may be accompanied by a perceived distortion of the size and shape of your body or of other people and objects around you.

Time may seem to slow down, and the world may seem unreal. Symptoms may last only a few moments or may wax and wane over many years.

Treatments

Treatment of DID may last for five to seven years in adults and usually requires several different treatment methods.

1. Psychotherapy