Bipolar Disorder: the Basic Fact Sheet

This infographic lists facts, symptoms, and treatments for Bipolar Disorder.

Published byHealthline

Designed by Cristina gambaccini

Zeta-Jones may help dispel stigma of bipolar disorder

By Rebecca Dube

TODAY

updated 4/14/2011 10:53:57 AM ET 

Oscar-winning actress Catherine Zeta-Jones suffers from bipolar disorder, and checked herself into a mental health facility earlier this month, her publicist has confirmed.

The news may be shocking to fans who associate the actress and wife of Michael Douglas with her image of polished glamour. But bipolar disorder – which used to be called manic depression – can take many different forms, psychiatrist Gail Saltz told TODAY. 

"It can look like a very high-functioning person who is just super 'up,' " Saltz said.

Zeta-Jones is diagnosed with bipolar II disorder, which is less severe than bipolar I. People with her condition swing between major depression and what’s called hypomania, which can include intense irritability, sleeplessness, relentless optimism or grandiose elation.

Zeta-Jones’s publicist, CeCe Yorke, blamed stress for the actress’s recent hospital stay. In the past year, her husband was diagnosed with advanced throat cancer; he’s also been battling a lawsuit from his ex-wife seeking half of his recent movie earnings. Zeta-Jones and Douglas have two children, ages 7 and 10.

Catherine Zeta-Jones treated for bipolar disorder

Stress can indeed be a trigger for bipolar episodes, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, NBC’s chief medical editor, told TODAY. And a brief stay in a hospital would not be uncommon, either to bring a manic episode under control, or to tune-up medications for more effective treatment, Snyderman and Saltz noted. Bipolar disorder can usually be controlled with a combination of medication and therapy. Lithium is one of the most common treatments. 

Researchers aren’t quite sure what causes bipolar disorder -- a combination of genetic and environmental factors seem to come into play. They do know the disorder is associated with an imbalance in the brain chemicals called neurotransmitters.

Bipolar disorder affects about 2.5 percent of the U.S. population, around 6 million people. Mental-health advocates hope Zeta-Jones’s public struggle will help dispel some of the myths and fears about mental illness.

"There is a ridiculous stigma in this country about this," Snyderman said. "We have to get over it. People get sick, our job as doctors is to get them well."

Saltz applauded Zeta-Jones for announcing that she has bipolar disorder after the National Enquirer reported that she had checked in to a psychiatric hospital. 

"I think it’s tremendously brave of her to come forward and I’m delighted that she’s doing that," Saltz said. "There are many people getting a new diagnosis, and we want them to know they have every hope, if they get treatment, of having wonderfully productive lives."

Yorke, Zeta-Jones’s publicist, said the 41-year-old actress is "feeling great and looking forward to starting work this week on her two upcoming films."

http://www.today.com/id/42589427/ns/today-today_health/t/zeta-jones-may-help-dispel-stigma-bipolar-disorder/#.UbsCHZzhfNg

Bipolar disorder made marriage stronger: Catherine Zeta-Jones

Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones believes her bipolar disorder brought her closer to husband Michael Douglas. 

The Welsh actress said she got to know herself and her 68-year-old actor husband, with whom she shares daughter Carys, 9, and son Dylan, 12, better during the tough period, a media report said. 

"It's been an intense time, in good ways and bad. You find out who you really are and who you're married to. You find things inside yourself you never imagined were there. 

"You can't escape what people say, and if you're human it can be painful. The smartest thing I did was to stop going online. I'm the sort of person who will just look for the negative," she said. 

The 43-year-old actress is now hoping to remove the stigma attached to mental illness by going public with her diagnosis. 

"I'm not the kind of person who likes to shout out my personal issues from the rooftops, but with my bipolar becoming public, I hope fellow suffers will know it is completely controllable. 

"I hope I can help remove any stigma attached to it, and that those who didn't have it under control will seek help with all that is available to treat it."

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bipolar-disorder-made-marriage-stronger-catherine-zetajones/1031031/

How to Understand the Difference Between Borderline and Bipolar

When it comes to navigating the mental health system, there is so much terminology and so many overlapping symptoms that it can be hard to understand what is what. This is especially the case with borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic-depression). In this article, I will address the differences and similarities between borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder, from similar symptoms to different symptoms to the differences in treatment. Hopefully you'll be able to understand them a little bit better!

Instructions

• 1

One of the primary reasons borderline personality is commonly confused with bipolar disorder is because both mental health issues share similar symptoms. One of the symptoms both disorders has is an unstable sense of self. When a person has an unstable sense of self, she lacks a solid, coherent view of what she is like as a person. At any given moment, the person may see herself as either "all good" or "all bad". She may place far more worth on what others think of her than her own view.

Intense anger, irritability, and anxiety are all common symptoms of both disorders. Many borderline and bipolar patients also suffer other mental health problems, particularly anxiety issues, such as social anxiety.

Impulsivity is another common symptom- such impulsiveness may involve sex, substance abuse, or self-harm. It is a common belief that self-harm is only a symptom of borderline personality disorder, but that is not true.

Those with bipolar and borderline are also much more likely than the general population to idealize suicide, and also to attempt it.

One other commonality between the two is that of "affective instability": borderline and bipolar patients may experience erratic and inappropriate responses to daily experiences. They can be extremely sensitive to criticisms.

• 2

A major difference between borderline and bipolar is the speed with which the moods of the patient change. In someone with borderline, mood changes can be very fast. They may have an angry emotional outburst one minute, and a few moments later be extremely joyous. In someone with bipolar, these emotional changes can last days, weeks, or even months.

A second major difference between borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder is that the borderline personality is more often fraught with feelings of loneliness, emptiness, and fear of abandonment. Bipolar people tend to not have these feelings, or not to the same extent as borderlines.

Bipolar people, on the other hand, are more likely to have psychosis, particularly paranoid psychosis or delusions of grandeur. Thus, while both are commonly admitted to psychiatric hospitals, the reasons either are likely to be admitted for are different. Bipolar patients are more likely to suffer more extreme psychosis, and are thus more likely to be admitted for this. Borderline patients are more likely to be "admitted for outbursts of rage and anger.

•  
• 3

The major difference between borderline and bipolar treatment is that bipolar treatment is first and foremost medication, while borderline personality is treated foremost with psychotherapy. Borderline can sometimes be treated only with psychotherapy. In bipolar, therapy alone is almost never used unless the patient refuses medication.

Bipolar disorder patients tend to respond best with traditional therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or psychoanalysis. Borderline, however, has a specific type of therapy that works well: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

http://www.ehow.com/how_5051371_understand-difference-between-borderline-bipolar.html