Complications of bipolar disorder
- 05.22.09
- news &events, bipolar disorder, complications
Bipolar disorder does not occur alone. There are often complications which are one or more problems associated with the mood disturbance, making it important for the doctor to discover and treat. The most frequent psychiatric illnesses that concur with or can mimic bipolar disorder include substance abuse, Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder or ADHD and anxiety disorders.
Substance abuse: Bipolar disorder patients, children or adults, are likely to addict to alcohol or drug abuse.
ADHD: patients have great difficulty focus on one thing due to their over activeness or depression. They are frequently seen being distracted by other things.
Anxiety disorders: bipolar disorder patients are frequently overwhelmed by some unnecessary worry or concerning.
Phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, childhood schizophrenia, oppositional defiant disorder, learning disorders, and delinquent behaviors are also included in its complications.
The section on anxiety disorders is quite accurate. In fact, this touches on the essence of my recently released biographical novel, Broken Saint. The story is based on my forty-year friendship with a gay and bipolar man and chronicles his internal and external struggles as he battles for acceptance and stability; numerous episodes of his being “overwhelmed” are depicted in stark detail within its pages. If interested, you can learn more about the book at http://www.eloquentbooks.com/BrokenSaint.html.
Thank you,
Mark Zamen, author