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Bipolar disorder is increasingly seen in films, books and in culture at large. For example, the TV series “Shameless” gave us the word “Bipolar.” If you've noticed mood swings and are starting to worry whether it's bipolar, try taking these questionnaires, they will help you better determine whether there is a reason to see a doctor. Remember that the diagnosis is still made by a psychiatrist. Bipolar affective disorder is a complex disease, and even an experienced doctor will rarely make a diagnosis right away.
We've put together a series of tests to help you determine whether you have symptoms of bipolar disorder or not.
Test for bipolar affective disorder and hypomania
Bipolar disorder differs from depression and other disorders in that with bipolar disorder there are periods of elevated mood, so determining whether you have had such episodes is very important for diagnosis. Hypomania test HCL-32 is a validated Russian version for identifying the possible presence of bipolar disorder.
Used to identify type 2 bipolar disorder among patients with recurrent depressive disorder. The test describes the symptoms of hypomania. Take the online test
How does the disease progress?
During an exacerbation, the disease can manifest itself as a series of episodes of depression and hypomania. There are also mixed manic and depressive states, or a clear separation. An exacerbation can last from 2-3 weeks to 2-3 months; a person’s condition largely depends on whether he receives help. With proper treatment, the patient's condition can be normalized and stabilized within a week. In the absence of therapy, the disease will last for several months with long depressive phases. How to diagnose bipolar disorder? You can take an easy and accurate 3-minute psychological test for bipolar personality disorder online on our website.
Cyclothymia test
Cyclothymia is a relatively “mild” form of bipolar disorder.
The symptoms of this disease are very similar to manic-depressive psychosis, but are much less pronounced, so they first attract attention. Go to test
Read about what bipolar disorder is and the severity of depression.
The mood changes suddenly. How to live with bipolar?
Kim Kardashian's husband, rapper Kanye West, spoke well about this disease. On the cover of his album he wrote: "I hate being bipolar, it's amazing." You can't say it more precisely. Our expert is a psychiatrist of the highest category, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, professor, head of the department of psychiatry and narcology, director of the Institute of Electronic Medical Education of the First Moscow State Medical University named after I.M. Sechenov, Doctor of Medical Sciences Marina Kinkulkina.
The essence of mental illness, abbreviated as bipolar affective disorder (BD), is the radically sudden and causeless mood swings that occur throughout a person’s life. Previously, this disease was called manic-depressive psychosis.
Life at different poles
We are talking not just about alternating sadness or joy, as is often the case with emotional people, but about extreme degrees of either despair or euphoria. A change in these moods can occur either gradually or suddenly, and for no apparent reason.
Many celebrities in the past are believed to have suffered from bipolar disorder. This illness, however, like other mental disorders, is attributed to Byron and Hemingway, Virginia Woolf and Edgar Allan Poe, Van Gogh, Schumann, Vivien Leigh and many others. There is an assumption that even “our everything” suffered from a mild degree of bipolar disorder - in any case, contemporaries often mentioned Alexander Sergeevich’s mood swings.
Many modern stars openly admit to having this mental disorder. In particular, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Mariah Carey, Mel Gibson and others admitted this.
Genetics or lifestyle?
Men also suffer from bipolar disorder, but the weaker sex is more likely to suffer from it. This disorder can appear at any age: in both a teenager and an elderly person.
The main risk factor is genetics. However, a specific gene that would be responsible for the development of bipolar disorder has not been identified. This is a polygenic disorder, so taking tests to find out how great the risk of getting sick does not make sense yet. Moreover, genetic predisposition is not a death sentence. This was proven by studies on identical twins, one of whom developed bipolar disorder over the years, and the other did not. Probably, some predisposing factors have an influence. Some of them are known. It is believed that living at the limit of one's capabilities, with constant deadlines, stress and chronic lack of sleep, as well as night shift work, frequent flights with significant changes in hour-long flights and, of course, the use of psychoactive substances contribute to the development of the disease. Therefore, you should try to avoid all this. But scientists have yet to find out how the lockdown and pandemic, as well as other stresses of the ill-fated 2022, affect the psyche. Although probably not in the best way.
You won't get bored
According to various estimates, bipolar disorder affects from a fraction of a percent to several percent of the population. Recently, the proportion of affective disorders has increased significantly, which may be explained by improved diagnosis (as well as an increase in the number of stresses).
At first glance, BAR does not look like something scary or dangerous. To many, this disorder even seems attractive - sometimes it’s sad, sometimes it’s fun, in general, you won’t get bored. Besides, being different from everyone else is fashionable these days. And then, it is believed that people with bipolar disorder have higher intelligence and creative abilities than the “gray masses”. But even if this is so, then none of those who suffer from it will definitely call bipolar disorder a pleasant thing. It is especially difficult for those patients who do not seek medical help on time. Without treatment, both phases of bipolar disorder can last for months (although sometimes the disorder occurs with frequently changing phases). Moreover, it is impossible to say which period of the disease is more severe - manic or depressive.
It's hard when you feel bad
Those who have experienced depression say that it is the worst thing that can happen. The whole world appears in black, not only mood, but also self-esteem is greatly reduced, the meaning of existence itself is lost. Life is perceived as a chain of tragic mistakes, the patient constantly blames himself for all troubles and sins, even those that are not even traced. In addition to mental suffering, physical suffering often occurs: a person moves as if in a dream, with difficulty, as if there were weights on the legs and arms, or as if he were swimming against the current. In addition, pain and tension are felt throughout the body. With moderate depression, the stomach often hurts. People go to doctors about this, but a diagnosis cannot be made. And the daily pain continues. Psychiatrists call this somatoform symptoms. With severe depression, many people experience so-called “pre-cardiac melancholy”: pain and heaviness in the chest, “a stone on the heart.” But even an in-depth examination does not reveal cardiac problems.
Often, with depression, patients (especially older ones) complain of difficulty thinking and memory impairment. Doctors suspect they have dementia, but in fact, mood disorders do not affect the intellect, and with treatment, when the mood stabilizes, thinking abilities are restored.
But the worst consequence of depression is suicide. Most suicide attempts are made in this state. Sometimes people in very severe depression, believing that they have done something irreparable, and believing that the consequences of their actions can harm loved ones, decide on extended suicides, in which they settle scores not only with their own lives, but also take their loved ones with them ( more often children).
It's bad when it's too good
The manic stage of bipolar disorder is subjectively more pleasant. Patients are in a great mood: they love the whole world and themselves in it. The reflection in the mirror pleases, there is not the slightest doubt in one’s own talents and intelligence, there is more than enough strength and energy, the bonus is accelerated mental activity. Many patients in this stage sleep for an hour a day, but do not experience fatigue. Sometimes they are on their feet for days and at least they are as energetic as an Energizer. It seems great. But no. During the manic phase, desires and ideas arise too quickly, so a person grabs onto every new task, but, as a rule, does not complete anything. So productivity at this stage is low. But it would be okay if that was only the case/
The main danger of mania is that a person has no criticism at this moment and he can commit actions that he will later greatly regret. For example, he can give away all his property to others (sometimes unfamiliar people or scammers). Or, say, he will take out loans to go on a trip to the other side of the world. Maybe even steal something - for example, to give an expensive gift. Many patients at these moments enter into hasty intimate relationships, mistaking a chance meeting for the love of their life (while completely “forgetting” that a wife and four children are waiting at home). Finally, often with mania, people, experiencing euphoria, ignore their severe somatic symptoms, as a result, do not consult a doctor for a long time and thus trigger a serious illness (pneumonia, for example, or COVID-19).
In addition, not all patients in the manic stage are “darlings”. They often show unreasonable aggression if, for example, others do not agree with their “brilliant” ideas. As a result of “angry mania,” conflicts and even situations arise that require the intervention of law enforcement agencies and involuntary hospitalization of the patient.
With good intentions
The worst thing that relatives and friends of a person with bipolar disorder can do is ignore the problem, devalue the suffering, while blaming the patient himself and appealing to his conscience. For example, they urge a depressed person to “pull himself together, don’t lose heart,” they say that he is “out of his mind,” and so on. A patient at the stage of mania is most often accused of immorality, frivolity, irresponsibility, promiscuity, etc. However, doing this is the same as blaming a person with diabetes for not being able to eat sweet cake, or blaming a patient with heart failure for not running a marathon.
BAR is a disease like many others. And she needs to be treated. The sooner proper therapy is started, the faster the patient’s condition can be stabilized and the better the future prognosis.
How to treat"?
On the Internet you can not only test yourself for any mental disorder, but also find out how to “cure”. Doctors strongly advise against doing this. The least harm of self-medication is that it will not help, but it can also worsen the condition. For example, inadequate use of antidepressants for bipolar disorder can plunge a person from a depressive phase into a severe manic state, from which it will then be difficult to get out.
Only a psychiatrist (and not a psychologist, neurologist or doctor of any other profile) can identify bipolar disorder and choose the right treatment. Treatment must be strictly individual; it is selected based on the characteristics of a particular patient and taking into account the moment in the course of the disease. The goal of therapy is not only to equalize the patient’s mood, but also to prevent repeated episodes.
In the treatment of bipolar disorder, the main role is played by drugs to stabilize mood - mood stabilizers (lithium salts, some anticonvulsants (anticonvulsants) and new generations of antipsychotics). Modern medications are much better tolerated than their predecessors and have fewer side effects, as they are designed for long-term use over many years. While taking them, women can even become pregnant. For depression within this disorder, antidepressants are prescribed only in exceptional cases, given the danger of changing one phase to another
Bipolar disorder cannot be cured once and for all, so you often have to take medications for years (with periodic visits to the doctor). But often, when the patient begins to feel well thanks to medications (this state - intermission - is completely indistinguishable from full health), he can stop taking the drugs. This is a big mistake that does not allow achieving a stable treatment result. After all, it is long-term use of maintenance therapy recommended by a doctor that allows you to achieve a stable state and feel the joy of life for many years.
Link to publication: Arguments and facts
Beck Depression Inventory
The Beck Depression Inventory was developed by him in 1961 and is still one of the most relevant scales for determining depression.
The questions are based on the most common symptoms and complaints among patients.
Take the test
Only a psychiatrist or psychotherapist can make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment, and of course, no questionnaires can replace it. The psychiatrist looks at you, how you speak, how you behave, nothing can replace a face-to-face meeting. But tests can strengthen your desire to go to the doctor, because deciding to go to one can be difficult.
There are mental illnesses that have some (or many) symptoms similar to bipolar affective disorder. Psychiatrists sometimes make mistakes in diagnosis, failing to distinguish one from the other. Below we provide tests for diseases that are most often confused with bipolar disorder. Please note that there are times when one person has both bipolar disorder and another mental disorder, such as borderline personality disorder.
Borderline Personality Disorder Test
Bipolar disorder can be confused with borderline personality disorder. The two disorders have similar symptoms. Borderline personality disorder is also characterized by mood swings, an unstable connection with reality, high anxiety and a strong level of desocialization.
Take the test
How does the disease manifest itself?
Typically, bipolar disorder occurs suddenly and unexpectedly. It is characterized by alternating periods of exacerbation and remission. When the disease enters a period of exacerbation, conditions such as mania, hypomania, and depression occur. what it is?
Mania
Manic disorder is an abnormally increased level of agitation, mood, and energy.
Mania is diametrically opposed to depression; in the second case, the disease is characterized by apathy, loss of strength, lethargy, and in the first, on the contrary, an elevated mood, which can be either euphoric or irritable. This is a rather dangerous condition that can worsen if timely psychological assistance is not provided. People with this disorder are dangerous to society, they can behave inappropriately and be aggressive. Mania can also be a sign of schizoaffective disorder or one of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Often this condition occurs in people with drug addiction, including pharmacy drug addiction. There is both mild mania, hypomania, and crazy mania, which is characterized by the following symptoms: impaired speech, coordination of movements, disorientation and psychosis. To measure the severity of manic disorder, you can take an online bipolar personality disorder symptom test.
Features of manic disorder
People with mania do not always need the help of doctors. Hypomania is characteristic of creative people; they often know how to control themselves and interact normally with society. When an artist is in a creative upsurge, he is visited by a “muse”, he may behave strangely and inappropriately, and to some people it may seem from the outside that the person is under the influence of drugs. However, he simply feels a frantic surge of strength and energy and enjoys doing his favorite hobby.
However, mania also has negative sides. For example, at the time of recovery, a person may make a bad investment in a business or spend all his money in a casino, as well as get into debt. Often such people are addicted to gambling or extreme sports. They find it difficult to concentrate, have problems with perseverance and monotonous work. The most severe case is manic psychosis, which is characterized by the presence of hallucinations and inappropriate behavior.
Hypomania
This is a mild mania. The person is in a state of emotional upsurge, he has an excellent mood, increased productivity and performance, and euphoria. In some cases, hypomania is characterized by nervousness, irritability and absent-mindedness.
Depression
This is a mental disorder in which a person has a low mood, indifference, lack of interest in hobbies, hobbies, surroundings, as well as insomnia, lack of concentration, appetite, etc. And in this state there are remissions, when a person can live a normal life, but some signs of the disease remain, and a relapse often occurs.
There are 2 types of bipolar disorder:
- the occurrence of one manic episode, regular depressive states;
- regular episodes of depression, a single case of hypomania.
Manic personality disorder
The patient is unable to control his behavior. In medical practice, several variants of pathology are noted. Each of them requires a clear definition in order to prescribe an adequate course of therapy.
Bipolar disorder, manic-depressive psychosis
It is a complex somatic psychiatric disease that requires constant treatment and monitoring. Accompanied by periods of remission, a change from a manic, excited state to a depressive one.
Manic depressive disorder
Accompanied by the patient remaining in a depressed state most of the time. Often there are thoughts about the meaninglessness of life. The patient loses interest in any form of activity.
Manic mental disorder
Recognized as the most affective of all bipolar disorders. Affects one in a hundred inhabitants of the planet. It most often begins before the age of 35. Euphoria easily turns into a depressed mood. During periods of unreasonable optimism, patients often lose their judgment and may begin to see themselves as other personalities, such as world leaders and heroes. Often occurs as a concomitant diagnosis of schizophrenia. Leads to serious personal damage, contributing to disability and disruption of ties in society and family.
Manic affective disorder
Refers to manifestations of manic-depressive psychosis. The patient loses control over mood swings. Often mood changes are observed several times during the day. Can become violent or, on the contrary, fall into a state close to catatonia. The condition requires mandatory consultation with a specialist. Many patients need to stay in the hospital during the active development stage.
Manic-depressive bipolar disorder
It is the most striking manifestation of MDP with frequent changes in the patient’s mood from deep euphoria to severe depression. The patient is not able to independently control sudden changes. Pathology leads to a sharp decrease in quality of life. Patients in the stage of depression go into a state of sharp rejection of the surrounding life. They become completely isolated from the outside world, and catatonia may develop. During the period of predominance of a manic state, patients also find it difficult to communicate in everyday life. They become overly friendly towards strangers and often show aggression towards loved ones.
Any manic disorder requires immediate consultation with a specialist. Mild stages are treated on an outpatient basis. In difficult situations, mandatory hospitalization is required to prescribe a course of adequate therapy. The disease requires lifelong monitoring of the condition in any case. Preventive medical examinations are recommended. Relatives and loved ones of the patient are recommended to immediately contact a doctor on their own to be invited to examine the patient. In the depressive stage, there is a lack of desire to go to doctors on your own due to a lack of desire and interest in life. The manic stage is accompanied by denial of the presence of a complex diagnosis that can lead to attacks of strong and dangerous aggression.
When prescribing a course of therapy, a family history study is carried out. Often this disease is caused by family predisposition and heredity. The onset of pathology is also caused by alcohol or drug addiction, which requires separate treatment. Additional psychiatric diagnoses may be present. It also occurs while taking some medications or as a manifestation of undetected injuries accompanied by damage to the cerebral cortex.
