Rapid cycling is the term used for patients who have four or more cycles of mania-depression in a 12-month period.
Some people even experience cycling on a daily or weekly basis.
This tens to happen more often with women then men and more often in women overall.
Treatment of Bipolar is medication. Because it is a lifelong and recurrent illness it is important to work at finding the most effective treatment and then being followed up for life to be sure to maintain effective treatment.
A strategy that combines medication and psychosocial treatment is optimal for managing the disorder over time (Bipolar Disorder (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm#intro)."
The most common medications used include mood stabilizers to prevent manic episodes and anti-depressants to work on depression.
Conclusion diagnosis of Bipolar should be viewed as the answer to the problem instead of a problem in itself. Many people go through years of life problems before being properly diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder is largely genetic, also environmentally based and can be effectively managed and treated so the patient can lead a full and productive life.
It is important that anyone with symptoms of Bipolar seek mental health professionals for a full assessment.
REFERENCES
Bipolar disorder and alcoholism.
From: Alcohol Research & Health | Date: March 22, 2002 | Author: Brady, Kathleen T. | More results for: bipolar
Bipolar Disorder http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm#intro
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Mueser KT, Goodman LB, Trumbetta SL, Rosenberg SD, Osher FC, Vidaver R, Auciello P, Foy DW. Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder in severe mental illness. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1998; 66(3): 493-9.
Strakowski SM, Sax KW, McElroy SL, Keck PE Jr., Hawkins JM, West SA. Course of psychiatric and substance abuse syndromes co-occurring with bipolar disorder after a first psychiatric hospitalization. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 1998; 59(9): 465-71.
History of Bipolar disorder http://www.depression-guide.com/bipolar-disorder-history.htm
Kopetskie, Stephen (2001)PSYCHOLOGICAL BEHAVIORISM THEORY of BIPOLAR DISORDER. The Psychological Record
REGIER, D.A.; FARMER, M.E.; RAE, D.S.; ET AL. Comorbidity of mental disorders with alcohol and other drug abuse: Results from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) study. JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association 264:2511-2518, 1990.
SONNE, S.C., and BRADY, K.T. Safety of Depakote in bipolar patients with comorbid alcohol abuse/dependence. American Journal of Psychiatry 156:1122, 1999a.
TOHEN, M.; GREENFIELD, S.F.; WEISS, RD.; ET AL. The effect of comorbid substance use disorders on the course of bipolar disorder: A review. Harvard Review of Psychiatry 6:133-141, 1998.
WEISS, R.D.; GREENFIELD, S.F.; NAJAVITS, L.M.; ET AL. Medication compliance among patients with bipolar disorder and substance use disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 59:172-174, 1998.
