Today March 30 is World Bipolar Disorder Day, a date that seeks to raise awareness of this type of illness.
Why is it celebrated on March 30? This date was chosen because of the birth of the famous Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh, who was posthumously diagnosed as possibly suffering from this disorder.
To learn a little more about this disorder, we spoke with Dr. Sergio Oliveros Calvo, specialist in Psychiatry at the Doctor Oliveros Group.
What is the importance of World Bipolar Disorder Day?
This type of event aims to attract the attention of the general public, as well as that of foundations and private donors to raise funds for research. Any effort to draw the attention of the general population to any area of Mental Health is extremely important insofar as it is not considered a relevant topic despite the fact that mental illness affects more than half of the population in their life cycle.
It is estimated that, in the world, 3% of the population is affected by bipolar disorder, although its most severe form, type I, has a much lower prevalence. These figures can be better understood when they are framed in environments that may be familiar to us. In the Community of Madrid, for example, it is estimated that there are around 202,090 people affected.
Bipolar disorder suffers from a significant social stigma. Bipolar patients suffer from it at work, in their social relationships or even in their community of neighbors because, in their hypomanic or manic phases, they behave in a way that clashes with the predominant culture. They may be considered dangerous even though, in reality, they always become victims of themselves or of others who take advantage of their vulnerability.
These patients lose their jobs, suffer a very high divorce rate and may be rejected by their children. World Bipolar Disorder Day can help to raise awareness of the illness and improve society’s poor opinion and understanding of the condition. This will undoubtedly result in a better quality of life for affected patients.
Can Bipolar Disorder be confused with other disorders? How can we differentiate it correctly?
Most difficulties can come from its overlap with Borderline Personality Disorder in its milder or moderate forms and with schizophrenia in its more severe forms. In general, a detailed clinical history and a longitudinal follow-up can resolve the doubts.
The correct diagnosis is key to the extent that in this disorder the key to treatment is the prophylaxis of the depressive and hypertensive phases of the disorder. In addition, a wrong diagnosis can lead to the use of drugs that can produce rapid phase changes.
For example, the use of SSRIs, which in borderline patients are extremely useful in impulse control and mood stabilization, in bipolar patients can precipitate a rapid induction of a hyperthymic phase. The use of depot neuroleptics when mistaken for schizophrenia may precipitate further depressive episodes or aggravate their intensity in bipolar patients.
What advice can family and friends of a person suffering from bipolar disorder follow?
It is important that they are well informed of the symptoms in both the depressive and hyperthymic phases.
In Bipolar Disorder, psychoeducation of the patient and his or her closest circle is key. The family and social environment are key for the early detection of the phases which allows a much more effective and early intervention of the Mental Health devices avoiding its evolution to more severe and unmanageable forms.
The treatment of a bipolar patient should always be a team effort, with the patient and his or her family being the most essential part in reducing its consequences. In addition, psychoeducational measures in the patient’s environment can improve his or her prognosis for work and family.
How does this disorder affect the homeless?
We must bear in mind that many of the homeless who wander the streets are, in reality, bipolar patients for whom the necessary measures have not been taken at the time.
In this regard, it is noteworthy that it is estimated that the prevalence of bipolar disorder can increase up to 42% in some studies among the homeless. Seeing the consequences, it is easy to recognize the importance of this day, because together we can change the devastation that this disorder generates in the lives of many patients.
Did you know that following a diet rich in fatty acids can have advantages for people suffering from Bipolar Disorder?
According to Dr. Oliveros Calvo, omega-3 fatty acids may offer some unique benefits, should they prove to be truly effective mood stabilizers.
Advantages include:
- The apparent acute efficacy in both the manic and depressive phases of bipolar disorder.
- Their lack of toxicity.
- High patient acceptance.
In addition, the sustained use of omega-3 fatty acids confers some health benefits such as a possible reduction in the risk of fatal myocardial infarction.
It should be noted that omega-3 acids have no documented adverse drug interactions, and appear to be safe (and possibly beneficial) during pregnancy and in children.
The disadvantages of omega-3 fatty acids include their low potency, which requires a high number of capsules per day and may compromise compliance with treatment. The side effects most frequently observed in studies have been mild gastrointestinal problems, distress, generally loose stools.
These side effects have disappeared in studies that have slightly reduced the dose or by dividing the dosage into three or four separate doses. Although an increase in bleeding would have been expected with high doses of omega-3 fatty acid treatment, it has not been observed in the studies.