need for help, distractablility, and excessive involvement in reckless activities (Hollandsworth,.
Jr. 1990). The rarest symptoms involved were periods of loss of all interest and retardation or.
agitation (Weisman, 1991). .
Many other developmental delays can be created by bipolar disorder. Marital and family.
problems can arise, along with occupational setbacks and financial disasters (which could be.
mainly caused by the impulsive need to spend money). Marital and family problems can be.
treated through group/family therapy. Also, support from the family is also important. It is vital.
that the family is well informed about the disorder. This can help them understand and even.
cope with the illness. Some bipolar patients may experience job loss. In some instances, bipolar.
states can be confused with and misdiagnosed with schizophrenia. Speech patterns help.
distinguish between the two ( Lish, 1994). .
The mere beginnings of bipolar disorder normally are ingnighted between twenty and.
thirty years of age. Some women may experience a peak of these episodes as late as their mid.
forties. Normal, a bipolar patient will experience between eight and twelve episodes in a year. .
However, those who have rapid cycling may experience more episodes of mania and depression.
that succeed each other without a period of remission (DSM III-R). .
There are three stages of mania. They begin with hypomania, in which patients report.
that they are energetic, extraverted and asserted (Hirschfield, 1995). The hypomania has led.
some observers to feel that bipolar patients may be addicted, so to speak to their mania. .
Hypomania eventually progresses into mania, and this transition is marked by loss of responsible.
judgement (Hirschfield, 1995). Many times, euphoric characteristics are displayed, and paranoid.
and irritable emotions may begin to occur. The third and final stage of mania is known when.
the patient experiences delusions with often paranoid themes.