Bipolar affective disorder (manic depression)

Reviewed by Dr John Powell, MRC psych specialist registrar

What is the outlook?
Some people will have only one or two short episodes and then never be unwell again, whereas a very small proportion persistently experiences the symptoms of depression or mania or flit quickly from one extreme to the other. The average is nine episodes of mood disturbance over a lifetime.

If I have bipolar disorder will I pass it on to my children?
Bipolar disorder can run in families but it can occur in people who have no psychiatric problems in their family. The risk of any child going on to develop bipolar disorder is 1 in 100. This risk is increased in the children of someone with bipolar disorder, but is still only about 8 in 100.

Someone close to me has bipolar disorder - what should I do?

Be understanding.

Offer practical help.

Encourage them to seek help if they appear to be becoming unwell.

Contact a doctor or nurse involved in their care yourself if they are becoming more unwell.

Take care of yourself.

Seek help immediately if:

Your relative or friend is not able to look after him or herself properly.

You find that they are seriously neglecting themselves by not eating or drinking.

They talk of harming or killing themselves.

They are starting to become manic and you notice that they are happier, more irritable, talking faster than usual, sleeping less than normal and especially if they are behaving in an unusually risky way.

Your loved one's mania or depression can be distressing, exhausting and can leave you feeling completely powerless to help. You should seek help and support yourself and do what you can to make sure that you have enough rest, exercise and time just for yourself to allow you to recharge your batteries and so be able to continue to help.

I think that I have bipolar disorder. What should I do?
Visit your GP. He or she will talk to you to help decide if your fears are correct and will then be able to organise appropriate care.

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