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Jul 1, 2009, Announcing the 2009 Bipolar Lives Scholarship WinnerThe inaugural Bipolar Lives Scholarship is going to NH, a social work student in Wisconsin, who wrote a gripping account of turning to ECT for treatment when medication failed. Jun 29, 2009, Brain structure may reveal causes of bipolarMary Phillips peers into the brains of people with bipolar disorder, and what she has found there gives a whole new meaning to the term bipolar. Dr. Phillips, a University of Pittsburgh psychiatrist, has discovered that each half of a bipolar patients brain may be responsible for a different extreme of the illness. Her study found that on the left side of the brain, which is associated with more positive feelings, the uncinate fasciculus was much thinner than normal, which could mean the front of the brain was less able to control those feelings in bipolar patients, sending them into hyperactive, sometimes grandiose episodes of mania. On the right side, which is more linked to negative feelings, the wiring was thicker and had more cross connections, which she said can lead to sort of getting off the point and thinking too much, getting off into this reverberative, ruminative loop of anxious, melancholy ideas. Jun 29, 2009, Is irritability the key to childhood bipolar?Researchers at Bradley Hospital in Providence have found that some kids with bipolar disorder experience manic episodes without extreme elation, one of the classic hallmarks of bipolar disorder, but may be diagnosed based on irritable mood. The findings have implications for the ongoing debate that rages over diagnosing young children as bipolar. Jun 27, 2009, Mentally ill exploited by careless lendersA British study has shown that if you are bipolar you are four times more likely to be in debt. Emma Mamo, of Mind, the mental health charity, says that people with bipolar disorder may go on massive spending sprees during a manic phase and take on credit and loans that they cannot afford. Once their mania is over, they may be unable to deal with the consequences, such as being harassed to pay debts that they may not even remember accumulating. Jun 23, 2009, Polar walk for bipolar disorderChristchurch forensic psychologist Erik Monasterio plans to walk to the South Pole and back to raise funds for people suffering bipolar mental health problems. Two of the team members participating in the 5 week endurance marathon are people with bipolar disorder. Dr Monasterio says the expedition will force them to develop inner strengths which may help them better manager their disorder. The participants would find their well being improved by the need to survive in a hostile environments, to get organised and the daily discipline of sledge hauling. Jun 22, 2009, Star uses diet and exercise to shed bipolar weight gainBritish actor and comedian Stephen Fry says he has lost more than 80 pounds in the past six months, trading what he described as his "appallingly corpulent" body for a leaner one. Jun 22, 2009, Antipsychotic drugs for kids raise hope, worryIncreasingly powerful antipsychotic drugs available on the market, and growing evidence that starting these medications early can help children with conditions like bipolar disorder, is putting doctors under more pressure than ever to diagnose and treat young people with mental illnesses. As a result, some doctors say, mental illness, especially bipolar disorder, has been overdiagnosed much the same way attention deficit hyperactivity disorder was in the 1980s. Jun 17, 2009, Bipolar Mood Chart. Free Professional Versions Online NowFree: the bipolar mood chart used by the Harvard Bipolar Research program and the NIMH. Start this easy and effective self-help program now. Permalink -- click for full blog post Jun 13, 2009, Congressman Kennedy Undergoes More TreatmentRepresentative Patrick Kennedy, who has long battled both addiction and bipolar disorder, has again entered some type of treatment, according to a statement from his office. Jun 13, 2009, 9 Myths of Bipolar DisorderBipolar disorder has been the focus of attention in recent years, as a new slew of psychiatric medications have been developed to help treat it. Such medications drive pharmaceutical marketing and increased educational efforts surrounding bipolar disorder (for better or worse). But many myths surround bipolar disorder. Jun 12, 2009, Drug studies ghostwritten by LillyOfficials from Eli Lilly engaged in ghostwriting medical journal studies that were favorable to the drug companys antipsychotic Zyprexa, according to unsealed company files being reported on by Bloomberg. Jun 9, 2009, Mental health care motivational speakerhealth care motivational speaker Permalink -- click for full blog post Jun 8, 2009, Row over claim that Burns was a manic depressiveA heated debate has broken out over whether Robert Burns suffered from bipolar disorder amid claims that the National Trust for Scotland deliberately played down a report suggesting that he was a manic depressive. Jun 5, 2009, Skin Cells Provide New Knowledge About Bipolar DisorderUntil now diseases like bipolar disorder have been difficult to study biologically, since this would entail taking samples from the patients brain. But new research findings from a Swedish university show that it is just as good to study a certain type of skin cells, since they function in a way that is similar to a type of brain cells that are suspected of playing a major role in the disorder. Jun 5, 2009, FDA Committee to Rule on Psych Meds for YouthsThe Food and Drug Administration's Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee will vote next week on whether to allow three psychotropic medications, all frequently used to treat bipolar, to be marketed as effective and acceptably safe for youths with certain conditions. May 31, 2009, Last Chance to Apply for 2009 Bipolar Lives ScholarshipThe Bipolar Lives Scholarship is an annual award of a $500 cash prize to a student enrolled in a United States college, community college, technical college, or trade school. The scholarship encourages research, reflection, and creativity in communicating important information about bipolar disorder. The deadline for 2009 entries is midnight EST Monday June 1, 2009. Permalink -- click for full blog post May 30, 2009, Bipolar Medications LibraryMedications are the standard and proven treatment for bipolar disorder. Sometimes a patient can be stabilized on a single prescription drug, but more often a combination of medications is needed. The drugs included in that combination depend on each person's unique symptoms, body and brain chemistry, and other factors including such things as what prescriptions the patient is taking for other conditions. Bipolar disorder medications fall into several categories. May 30, 2009, Bipolar disorder costly to treatMayo Clinic researchers have found that bipolar disorder is more costly than other chronic conditions such as diabetes, depression, asthma or coronary artery disease. May 27, 2009, Bipolar teen rejects medication to preserve artistic talentHe moves his hand up and down as if it were following the tracks of a roller coaster. Turns are sharp and plunges steep. This, Kyle Boganwright explains, is the way his mind works. Kyle would rather ride out the extremes of his bipolar disorder than take the medications that make him feel sleepy, altered and controlled. Even worse, they corrupt his art. May 22, 2009, Costs for Patients With Bipolar Disorder Are Higher Than Diabetes and Other Chronic DiseasesMayo Clinic researchers have found that bipolar disorder is more costly than other chronic conditions such as diabetes, depression, asthma or coronary artery disease. These findings are based on a review of health care claim costs. Specialty care costs (the costs of seeing any specialist and all tests ordered) were especially higher for bipolar patients. Results of this review are being presented today at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in San Francisco. May 19, 2009, New Drugs Have Allure But No Track RecordRecently, one of my residents told me about a patient with bipolar disorder whose psychiatrist had prescribed an exotic cocktail of drugs, including a sedative, a new mood stabilizer and the latest antipsychotic medication. I was puzzled, not by her case, which the resident described as textbook manic depression, but by what was left out. This patient, it seems, was never offered lithium, the single most effective treatment for bipolar disorder. May 12, 2009, FDA approves new version of LamictalThe US Food and Drug Administration has approved a pill version of the GlaxoSmithKline drug Lamictal that disintegrates on the tongue, the worlds second largest drug maker said Monday. May 4, 2009, Fathers depression harms kidsChildren whose fathers have mental health disorders are likely to have psychiatric or behavioural disorders themselves, researchers warn. Adolescents whose parents have bipolar disorder are up to 10 times more likely than adolescents with mentally healthy parents to develop bipolar disorder, and three to four times more likely to develop other psychiatric illness, research suggests. May 2, 2009, Expert Guide To Bipolar Medication. Get Your Life Back Now.Discover the truth about bipolar medication. What Big Pharma will NOT tell you. What your doctor does NOT know. Get the facts now. Permalink -- click for full blog post May 2, 2009, Lithium in drinking water may boost moodJapanese researchers say low levels of lithium found naturally in some water systems may help prevent suicides. Apr 29, 2009, Pharmaceutical payouts taint psychiatric guidelinesAlmost all of the psychiatrists, 18 of 20, setting American Psychiatric Association (APA) guidelines for treating schizophrenia, bipolar and major depressive disorder, had undisclosed financial links with companies whose products were specifically considered or included in the guideline they authored, finds a review released this week. Apr 25, 2009, Brain Activity Determines Risk Or Resilience In Manic DepressionPsychiatrists in London are a step closer to personalising treatment and prevention for manic depressive illness. Their research has shown why some people are more at risk and why others are more resilient to genetic and environmental factors underlying bipolar disorder. Further analysis of the complexities of what makes a person at risk or resilient to bipolar disorder is required but this research suggest that it may soon be possible to advise people with a family history of bipolar disorder about their individual risk or resilience . Apr 21, 2009, New light on bipolar treatment drugsLithium has been established for more than 50 years as one of the most effective treatments for bipolar mood disorder. However, scientists have never been entirely sure exactly how it operates in the human brain. Now, new research from Cardiff University scientists suggests a mechanism for how Lithium works, opening the door for potentially more effective treatments. Apr 18, 2009, Daily impact of bipolar depressionA new national online survey of more than 2,000 people living with bipolar disorder and 500 physicians who treat patients with bipolar disorder identified that the greatest concern among people living with bipolar disorder (73%) is that their symptoms will impact daily life, such as family, relationships, or job. In particular, about 9 in 10 patients said they have cancelled social engagements because of bipolar depression. In addition, people with bipolar disorder reported that bipolar depressive symptoms affected their ability to manage housework (73%) and run errands (59%). Apr 17, 2009, Mental health care remains elusiveIf you need an xray, chances are your doctor can find some place where you can get it. But not if you need mental health care. About two thirds of primary care doctors have problems finding psychiatric treatment for at least some of their patients, a new survey finds. It is estimated that fewer than half of the people with serious mental illness like depression or bipolar disorder get treatment. Apr 17, 2009, Depakote lowers IQ of babiesWomen with epilepsy who took the drug valproate ( Depakote) during pregnancy gave birth to children whose IQ at age 3 averaged up to 9 points lower than the scores of children exposed to other epilepsy drugs, according to a new study. Depakote is also used to treat bipolar disorder. Apr 16, 2009, Can Klonopin treat bipolar mania as well as anxiety?This litle piece caught my eye. So many people with manic depressive illness also have anxiety and panic disorders, and often take Klonopin. It is not usually thought of as a bipolar med but many of my readers report using it with good results. Apr 14, 2009, Alberta makers of natural bipolar pills get the number they needThe makers of a nutritional supplement that appears to help people with bipolar disorder say they will soon be able to sell their product on store shelves. A long awaited natural product number needed to legally sell the supplement made by Truehope Nutritional Support Ltd. in Raymond, Alta., has been approved by Health Canada. Apr 13, 2009, Opening the door on hypersexualityA few years ago, a middle aged woman from Vancouver, British Columbia, happened to read an article about bipolar disorder and hypersexuality, written by her very own psychiatrist. In all the years she had been going to see him, she was shocked to realize, this doctor had never once asked if hypersexuality was one of her symptoms. Apr 9, 2009, When to Avoid Antidepressants in Bipolar PatientsPatients with bipolar depression who exhibit even minimal manic symptoms are at heightened risk for switching into mania if they receive antidepressant medication, according to a new report from the Bipolar Collaborative Network. Apr 8, 2009, FDA Concerned About Expanding Seroquel Use for Mood DisordersAn FDA staff review expressed worries about adding new indications for the antipsychotic drug quetiapine (Seroquel) because of increased risks for metabolic problems. Apr 1, 2009, The California Tunnel - A Guerilla-Style Film About Manic DepressionA reader recently sent me a copy of this moody meditation on living with bipolar disorder. It is full of memorable quotes and images, and expresses as much as any short film can what if feels like to be trapped in a manic-depressive spiral of self-destruction. A good antidote to Hollywood cliches and celebrity so-called bipolar antics. Mar 31, 2009, What Triggers Your Episodes?A hallmark of bipolar disorder is that mood swings can occur spontaneously, without any external events to cause episodes. But as we all know, triggered episodes are also very common. Several events have triggered me in the past. Mar 27, 2009, Visit Bipolar Lives on YouTubeWe have just added 3 new videos to our YouTube channel. These were all taken from entries for the 2009 Bipolar Lives Scholarship award. This will be a $500 cash prize for an American student over 18 in higher education. The vids cover everything from controversial childhood bipolar symptoms to highly personal bipolar stories. Please check them out and let me know what you think. Mar 27, 2009, Powerful proponent of psychiatric drugs for children primed for a fallDr. Joseph Biederman, chief of the Massachusetts General Pediatric Psychopharmacology Clinic, is already under investigation by Harvard University and the National Institutes of Health for failing to report income received from drug companies. Now, in newly released court documents, Biederman appears to be promising drugmaker Johnson & Johnson in advance that his studies on the antipsychotic drug risperidone will prove the drug to be effective when used on preschool age children. Mar 25, 2009, The Professional, High Functioning Bipolar PatientThere exists what I like to call the PHFBP, or the professional, high functioning bipolar patient. Mar 24, 2009, Comorbidity in Bipolar DisorderBipolar disorder is frequently accompanied by other conditions, in particular anxiety, panic disorder, substance abuse, and ADHD. This creates significant challenges for diagnosis and treatment. Mar 24, 2009, Bipolar Death in the familyThe recent suicide of Sylvia Plath's son sparked this piece on manic depression, suicide, genetics, and hereditary risk factors. Mar 22, 2009, SiteSearchBipolar Lives Search Engine Permalink -- click for full blog post Mar 18, 2009, Positive Results Announced For New NUVIGIL Bipolar MedCephalon, Inc. today announced positive results from a phase two clinical trial of NUVIGIL (armodafinil) as adjunctive therapy for treating major depressive disorder in adults with bipolar I disorder. Adverse events that occurred more frequently in the NUVIGIL versus the placebo group included restlessness and anxiety. Mar 12, 2009, Sprinkle this on your food when depressedResearchers have found salt is a natural antidepressant, which might explain why we have a tendency to over ingest it. Lithium is, of course, also a natural salt. Mar 5, 2009, People with bipolar more likely to smokeIn a new study, bipolar disorder was associated with significantly higher prevalences of tobacco smoking behaviors compared with the general population. The figures are significant, showing bipolar people are 7.3 times as likely to be current smokers as the general population, and 4 times as likely to have smoked in their lifetimes. A disturbing 66% of bipolar people in the study were current smokers. Mar 3, 2009, Kids with Bipolar Parents at Higher RiskChildren with bipolar parents are more likely to have early onset bipolar spectrum disorders and other psychiatric problems such as anxiety, researchers have found. Mar 2, 2009, Study shows mania linked to desire for fame and successPeople with manic or bipolar tendencies have higher expectations of what they can achieve in terms of success, money and fame, a new study published Monday finds. Feb 28, 2009, Bipolar Type IIBipolar Type II is more common than you realize - could you have soft bipolar? Discover answers now. Permalink -- click for full blog post
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