Volume 7 Issue 3 March, 2017
World Bipolar Day and Bipolar Depression
Depression is one of the widely known and common mental illness that not only among doctors but it is being spoken in public platforms also. Depression commonly refers to what is called as Major Depressive episode or Unipolar Depression, the latter name specifically used to differentiate it from bipolar depression. This less common Bipolar Depression has all the core symptoms and criteria similar to unipolar depression but relatively more complicated in its course, progression, co-morbidities as well as therapeutics and outcomes. One just cannot treat both depression in a similar way but it is in fact contrasting. Conventional anti-depressant medications are the last resort medications to be used in bipolar depression while they are the main stay in unipolar depression. It may in fact have a deleterious effect in worsening the course of bipolar disorder by precipitating manic/hypomanic episodes, inducing rapid cycling and more seriously heightening the risk and incidence of suicides. This is an important point to be noted because anti-depressants like Escitalopram, Dosulepin, Amitriptyline etc. are being prescribed in alarming rates in non-specialized settings for various indications without a thorough background check of possibility of bipolarity. Bipolar disorder probably has more co-morbidity in the above conditions for which antidepressants are prescribed. Many times patients may not always reveal that they were earlier treated for bipolar disorder or any psychiatric disorder. So let’s take this opportunity to know a little more on bipolar disorders and spread the awareness through deeds and words. Every year March 30th is observed as World Bipolar Day to commemorate the birthday of Vincent Van Gogh, Dutch artist who is known to have suffered from bipolar disorder and succumbed to suicide in 1890 at the age of 37.
BMCH&RC, N Chitradurga (Karnataka)
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