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Discover the wonderful world of RSS - it is great fun, and remember, it puts YOU in the driver's seat! Feb 7, 2010, Info on Bipolar DisorderEveryone experiences ups and downs in life. Sometimes we all just have a bad day. Other days can be really great, but how can you tell when these Permalink -- click for full blog post "Info on Bipolar Disorder" Feb 7, 2010, Bipolar Insomnia is a Significant Feature of Bipolar DisorderWhat is bipolar insomnia? Discover why are insomnia and bipolar disorder are so closely related. Feb 4, 2010, Straight-A schoolchildren at higher risk of bipolar disorder, research claimsStraight-A schoolchildren have a much higher risk of suffering from bipolar disorder than less intelligent pupils, according to new research. Clever children are almost four times more likely to suffer from the condition, which is also known as manic depression. The latest finding, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, supports a commonly held belief that exceptional intellectual ability is associated with the mental illness. Jan 30, 2010, Does Bipolar Disorder Consume You? Big Pharma Says it DoesAnyone seen the latest Seroquel XR ads from AstraZeneca? They are pretty dramatic and the theme is that folks with bipolar disorder experience it as all consuming, particularly if they are suffering from bipolar depression. However, having bipolar disorder is not ALL of who we are. If you don't want your bipolar disorder to consume you, try the following 5 tips. Jan 29, 2010, Want to Dump Your Therapist?Sometimes we want to change therapists or psychiatrists, doctors, etc. but feel guilty or awkward about it and end up feeling trapped. I know I have gone through this. If you have also had to wrestle with this issue, just think of the old Paul Simon song, There must be 50 ways to leave your lover. I am not sure if there are 50 ways to leave your shrink, but here are some tips and tools you can use. Jan 29, 2010, Kids of bipolar parents at risk for mental woesAccording to a new study, young children whose parents have bipolar disorder -- a mental illness marked by severe mood swings from depression to mania -- have an eight-fold higher risk of ADHD relative to young children of mentally healthy parents. They also have a six-fold high risk of having two or more mental disorders. Jan 26, 2010, Simple eye test may diagnose bipolarResearchers have new evidence that a simple eye test could help diagnose inherited mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder. Jan 24, 2010, Fattened by pillsOne of the biggest causes of obesity is seldom discussed. The elephant in the living room is the skyrocketing use of psychiatric drugs.It is striking that the weight of many Americans has ballooned just as the prescribing of psychiatric drugs has surged. Jan 23, 2010, Take steps to prevent bipolar card splurgesUntamed spending is one of the most common signs of bipolar disorder. Many people do not understand bipolar spending. To those unfamiliar with bipolar episodes, it can look a lot like compulsive overspending, or even an excuse or a simple lack of self control. However, true bipolar spending differs from ordinary over shopping in some important ways. Jan 19, 2010, Is bipolar a disability?Is bipolar a disability? This is a question I struggle with almost daily. I receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). My psychiatrist Permalink -- click for full blog post "Is bipolar a disability?" Jan 19, 2010, UK research shows bipolar stories in TV soaps reduces stigmaThe use of mental health problems in soap opera storylines helps to break down stigmas attached to such conditions, it has been pointed out. Jan 19, 2010, Winston Churchill and Manic Depression: A fatal curse or the root of his genius?Curious about Winston Churchill and manic depression? His true story is more amazing than any fiction. Jan 15, 2010, Study Shows Bipolar Diagnosis Jump in Young ChildrenThe number of children aged 2 to 5 who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and prescribed powerful antipsychotic drugs has doubled over the past decade, according to research released on Friday. Jan 14, 2010, Bipolar Disorder and Alternative MedicineQuick but informative overview of alternative medicine and bipolar disorder from the Mayo Clinic. Jan 9, 2010, Walking the line with dual diagnosisAbout 50 percent of people with severe mental disorders are affected by substance abuse, according to reports published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The numbers are even higher for those with bipolar disorder: As many as 60 percent turn to drugs and alcohol, often to try to manage their symptoms, but they only add further pain to their lives. Dec 24, 2009, Lithium Beats Valproate for Long Term Bipolar TherapyPeople with bipolar I disorder will do best over the long term with lithium treatment alone or a combination of lithium and valproate compared to valproate alone, new research suggests. Dec 20, 2009, Food and Mood - Secrets to Managing Mood Swings, Food and WeightFood and Mood: Secrets to Managing Mood Swings, Food and Weight explains the connection between food and mood and asks Is your medication making you fat? It lists specific Bipolar Super Foods that help stabilize moods and warns you about the exact foods to avoid. It concludes with a discussion of diabetes and bipolar disorder - people with bipolar disorder are up to 3 times more likely to develop diabetes - and explains how the same healthy eating that protects you from diabetes will also help manage mood swings and control weight. Food and Mood: Secrets to Managing Mood Swings, Food and Weight may be downloaded at no charge - no password, email address or registration is required. Dec 17, 2009, New Bipolar Toolkit Empowers People with Bipolar Disorder to Take Charge of Their Own RecoveryThe newly developed Bipolar Toolkit is a free downloadable PDF file providing people with bipolar disorder with three powerful tools, empowering them to take charge of their own recovery. These tools are based on proven clinical methods developed by leading mental health organizations and are available at no cost to consumers. Dec 16, 2009, Bipolar Treatments - Get the Facts! Not All Are EqualBipolar treatments - discover what really works. Permalink -- click for full blog post "Bipolar Treatments - Get the Facts! Not All Are Equal" Dec 15, 2009, Bipolar Disorder Holiday Survival Guide - The 12 Steps of ChristmasMore and more we are coming to understand the huge role that stress plays in bipolar disorder. Given how stressed out most folks can get around the holidays, it is no surprise that people with bipolar disorder can find this time of year extremely challenging. Dec 11, 2009, Testing motor function helps determine if it is bipolar disorder or ADHDMotor function may differentiate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder from early onset bipolar disorder. Research showed an age standardized neuromotor test battery may promote diagnostic accuracy in differentiating ADHD from bipolar disorder, and help evaluate whether symptoms of ADHD in children who have bipolar disorder reflect symptom overlap or real comorbidity. Dec 10, 2009, Lithium and Liver Cancer - There is Something You Should Know!Is there a link between lithium and liver cancer? How to manage bipolar safely! Dec 8, 2009, Cognitive Impairment in Patients With Bipolar DisorderIt is widely accepted that patients with schizophrenia have some degree of cognitive deficiency and that cognitive deficits are an inherent part of the disorder. Historically, there has been less focus on cognitive deficits in patients with bipolar disorder; however, numerous studies of cognition in patients with bipolar disorder, including several comprehensive meta-analyses of bipolar patients who were euthymic at the time of testing, have recently been undertaken. Each of these analyses found that cognitive impairment persists during periods of remission, mainly in domains that include attention and processing speed, memory, and executive functioning. Dec 3, 2009, Long-term stress damages the brainSo stressed out you cannot think straight? Well, it turns out that is not just a figure of speech. Long term stress damages the brain, impairing everything from emotion and impulse control to certain big picture analytical thinking. And it is worse for people who have underlying conditions such as bipolar disorder. Dec 2, 2009, Is It Bipolar Depression or Postpartum Depression?All pregnant women should be screened for bipolar disorder, according to a recent article by Verinder Sharma, MB, BS, professor of psychiatry and obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, and colleagues. This is because bipolar depression may be misdiagnosed as major depressive disorder in the postpartum period, resulting in delays in appropriate treatment. Dec 1, 2009, Offspring of Parents With Bipolar DisorderIt is generally held that the offspring of parents with bipolar disorder are at risk for bipolar disorder. The degree of risk is an important question for both clinicians and parents. A recent study of bipolar offspring sheds light on this issue. Nov 28, 2009, Bipolar Disorder May Be Tied to Body ClockNew research suggests that an internal body clock that goes on the fritz could be a factor in the development of bipolar disorder in children. Nov 23, 2009, Is Your Bipolar Medication Making You Fat?One of the most common barriers to recovery is non-compliance with taking medication. In fact, in working with people with manic-depressive illness, I have reached the point where every day now I hear the same story from either someone under treatment or their spouse - "Everything was fine until I/he/she stopped taking the meds". Nov 21, 2009, Geodon Approved As Adjunctive Treatment For Bipolar DisorderThe FDA has approved Geodon for maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder as an adjunct to lithium or valproate in adults. Geodon was previously approved by the FDA 2001 for the treatment of acute manic and mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder and for the treatment of schizophrenia. This new approval is based on data showing Geodan to also be effective as a maintenance/preventative treatment when combined with a mood stabilizer. Nov 17, 2009, Bipolar Medication Does Not Impact Cognitive PerformanceA new study has found no significant performance differences between patients who are taking medication for bipolar disorder and those who are not on a range of neurocognitive tests. Nov 15, 2009, Who Discovered Lithium? The Answer May Surprise You!Wondering who discovered lithium? Discover more yourself. Lithium's origins may surprise you. The story is more interesting than you may suspect . . . Permalink -- click for full blog post "Who Discovered Lithium? The Answer May Surprise You!" Nov 13, 2009, Circadian Clock Implicated in Kids' Bipolar DisorderA faulty circadian clock could be partly to blame for the rapid mood cycles of pediatric bipolar disorder, researchers said. Nov 12, 2009, Smoking Tied to Suicide Risk in Bipolar DisorderPeople with bipolar disorder who smoke appear to have a heightened risk of suicidal behavior, possibly because they are generally prone to impulsive acts, a new study suggests. Nov 9, 2009, 4,000 Percent Increase in Pediatric Bipolar Disorder Sobering Statistic or Sensational Twist?This week a headline snagged my attention in Google news proclaiming Bipolar Disorder Increases 4,000 Percent in Children and Adolescents. Nov 4, 2009, Is It Bipolar Disorder or Depression? Learn the SignsBipolar disorder and major depression are two very different mental health conditions that, to the chagrin of sufferers, often manifest with similar symptoms. Nov 3, 2009, Early course of bipolar disorder in high risk offspringNew research shows that adolescence marks the beginning of the high-risk period for major mood episodes related to bipolar disorder. Oct 29, 2009, Home Monitor for Lithium Levels in Bipolar Disorder To Become AvailableADA Technologies, Inc. has received a $189,886 grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to develop a home lithium monitor for use by patients with bipolar disorder. The testing tool would allow reliable, routine home monitoring of blood lithium levels, enabling individuals with bipolar disorder to conveniently and effectively manage their care. Oct 28, 2009, Alarming weight gain seen in kids on psych drugsChildren on widely used psychiatric drugs can quickly gain an alarming amount of weight; many pack on nearly 20 pounds and become obese within just 11 weeks, a study found. Oct 26, 2009, Is Chocolate a Mood Stabilizer?Why do so many of us crave chocolate when depressed? The common sense explanation is simple emotional eating. After all, chocolate is probably the world's number one comfort food. However, psychiatrists have traditionally identified loss of appetite with classic depression, and labeled depression with increased cravings for food as atypical depression. Now there is new thinking that speculates this atypical increased appetite and food cravings may not be psychological symptoms, but instead may be an attempt by the body to rebalance itself. In other words, cravings, including the craving for chocolate, may be rooted as much in physiology as in mental or emotional health. Oct 26, 2009, Does Bipolar Disorder Get Better As We Get Older?Two fascinating research studies have just been published, which at first glance appear to be a tad contradictory. On September 2nd, 2009 we reported in the Bipolar Lives Blog that a University of Missouri study discovered that almost half of young adults suffering from bipolar disorder will recover from the condition when they reach their 30s. However, the very next day on September 3rd, we reported an Australian study which found that developing Bipolar 1 at an early age is associated with worse clinical outcomes. So is a young person who has developed bipolar disorder more likely to get better, or are they more likely to get worse? Oct 15, 2009, Diagnosis to rock the world of mental healthMonash University announces a breakthrough in mental illness diagnosis, with a new device inserted in the ear. Oct 6, 2009, West Virginia sues over use of Geodan for BipolarIn a long list of bad medication experiences, taking Geodan for my bipolar disorder was by far the worst. Turns out Geodan is not FDA approved for use in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Now West Virgina is suing Pfizer for the illegal promotion of the anti-psychotic drug Geodon. Oct 3, 2009, Some People Outgrow Bipolar DisorderSymptoms of bipolar disorder typically begin during early adulthood, and experts used to believe they would last a lifetime. But new research indicates that nearly half of people who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder between the ages of 18 and 25 may outgrow the condition by the time they are 30 years old. Oct 2, 2009, Pfizer Email on "Negligible Evidence" for Neurontin as a Bipolar DrugAn email in the Neurontin litigation that Pfizer claims should be sealed shows former Pfizer vp/neuroscience Atul Pande telling a colleague that there is negligible evidence for the use of Neurontin in bipolar disorder and that the drug is not a good anti-manic treatment. Sep 26, 2009, Informant A Drama About Untreated Bipolar Disorder, Not Price FixingAccording to whistleblower Mark Whitacre, portrayed by Matt Damon, the new movie The Informant is more about untreated and undiagnosed mental illness than the infamous Archer Daniels Midland price fixing case. Sep 20, 2009, The Impact of Bipolar Disorder on SexThe impact of bipolar disorder on sex can be frustrating or even devastating to self-esteem and relationships. Sep 11, 2009, Bipolar Adults at Increased Risk for Cardiovascular DiseaseA new study suggests that adults with bipolar I disorder are at increased risk of developing heart disease and hypertension than those without the disorder. Sep 3, 2009, Age of onset affects clinical outcomes in bipolarDeveloping bipolar 1 disorder at an early age is associated with worse clinical outcomes, an Australian study finds. Sep 2, 2009, Bipolar recovery a likelihood, MU graduate student findsAlmost half of young adults suffering from bipolar disorder will recover from the condition when they reach their 30s, a study led by MU graduate student David Cicero found. Aug 14, 2009, Some conditions misdiagnosed as bipolar disorderA study published last year suggested that bipolar disorder may be over diagnosed in people seeking mental health care. Now new findings shed light on which disorders many of these patients actually have.
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