/assets/production/practices/9ac67a7dbafb967e5ed6bbc246cec9f8c167bafb/images/2666305.png)
Bipolar Disorder services offered in Houston, TX
If you’re among the 5.7 million Americans who have bipolar disorder, finding the right treatment may be a challenging process. At Lifespan Psychiatry & Wellness Center, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Vivian Young, PMHNP, is here to remove the difficulties and provide optimal treatment for you based on scientific evidence. From diagnostic evaluations to customized medication management and supportive care, bipolar disorder solutions await you in the Houston, Texas, office. Telehealth is also available after your initial evaluation in the office. Call the office or book an appointment online today.
Bipolar Disorder Q & A
What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is actually a group of three diagnoses that trigger dramatic mood, thought, behavior, and energy changes. Symptoms can be challenging, but bipolar disorder is treatable. You can live a happy and successful life with proper condition management.
What are the types of bipolar disorder?
The types of bipolar disorder are:
Bipolar disorder I
Bipolar disorder I features manic episodes: periods of dramatic energy increase, often alongside a particularly buoyant mood or unusual irritability. Manic episodes last for a week or longer and often cause:
- Decreased need for sleep
- Increase in physical activities
- Faster speech
- Racing thoughts
- Riskier-than-usual behaviors
- Increased distractibility
Bipolar disorder can be diagnosed after at least one manic episode. Some people also have depressive episodes or hypomanic (less-severe mania) episodes.
Bipolar disorder II
Bipolar II features at least one major depressive episode and one or more hypomanic episodes. Depressive episodes last two weeks or longer and cause symptoms such as:
- Intense sadness or hopelessness
- Loss of interest in previously loved activities
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Severe tiredness
- Appetite changes
- Poor concentration
- Increase in purposeless movements like pacing or decreased movement
- Slower speech patterns
- Frequently contemplating death, self-harm, or suicide
Bipolar I and II feature periods of euthymia (normal, balanced mood).
A third disorder, cyclothymic disorder, also falls under the bipolar umbrella. It causes emotional swings that aren’t severe enough to be bipolar I or II.
Is bipolar disorder a personality disorder?
No, bipolar disorder is a mood disorder. While they can affect mood, personality disorders like borderline, narcissistic, and paranoid personality disorders primarily impact interactions with other people.
Are manic depression and bipolar disorder the same thing?
Manic depression, or manic-depressive illness, is an old term for bipolar disorder. The third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-3), published in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), replaced the term with bipolar disorder.
What is the most effective treatment for bipolar disorder?
Medication management is the foundation for bipolar disorder treatment, according to the APA. Mood stabilizers can repair faulty brain connections, leading to symptom relief, fewer episodes, and less severe episodes.
Your provider creates a personalized treatment plan using the most evidence-based approaches. Beyond medication management, Lifespan Psychiatry & Wellness Center offers supportive care to provide a complete whole-person wellness solution.
Call Lifespan Psychiatry & Wellness Center or click the online booking feature to make your appointment now.