Bipolar disorder, symptoms and its marketed drugs- A review

Abstract

Bipolar disorder is an illness of the brain that causes severe cycles in a person’s frame of mind (mood), energy level, thinking and activities. According to the criteria defined in Diagnostic and statistical manual DSM-IV-TR, people with Type I bipolar disorder will experience at least one episode of mania that may include mixed, depressive and hypomanic episode. Similarly for type II bipolar disorder patients may experience only hypomanic and depressive episodes. But for Cyclothymic disorder they may be diagnosed by having not experiencing any manic, mixed and depressive episodes. They only experience numerous periods of both depressive and hypomanic symptoms for minimum of 2 year or with symptom free period. [3]
There are 4 types of bipolar diorders, bipolarI, II, cyclothymia, and bipolar disorder not specified. There is no single known cause for bipolar disorder as many provoking factors act together to produce the bipolar disorder illness. The symptoms that are seen in bipolar disorder are remarkable and erratic mood changes. The illness may have two strongly contrasting phases: mania and depression.