The Atlanta Center for Medical Research is currently seeking adult volunteers to participate in a clinical study of Bipolar I.
Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes periods of intense emotion called “mood episodes.” These episodes are categorized as “manic” (high) or “depressive” (low) and involve extreme changes in sleep patterns, activity levels, energy and behavior. Bipolar disorder can affect a person’s relationships and ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health,
People having a manic episode may:
- Feel very “up,” “high,” or elated
- Have a lot of energy
- Have increased activity levels
- Feel “jumpy” or “wired”
- Have trouble sleeping
- Become more active than usual
- Talk really fast about a lot of different things
- Be agitated, irritable, or “touchy”
- Feel like their thoughts are going very fast
- Think they can do a lot of things at once
- Do risky things, like spend a lot of money or have reckless sex
People having a depressive episode may:
- Feel very sad, down, empty or hopeless
- Have very little energy
- Have decreased activity levels
- Have trouble sleeping, they may sleep too little or too much
- Feel like they can’t enjoy anything
- Feel worried or angry
- Have trouble concentrating
- Forget things a lot
- Eat too much or too little
- Feel tired or “slowed down”
- Think about death or suicide
There is no cure for bipolar disorder, but symptoms are effectively managed with medication and psychotherapy. Currently, scientists are working to uncover the possible causes and risk factors of bipolar disorder.