Kanye West's recent outbursts have shone a spotlight on his struggles with bipolar disorder. The condition involves alternating periods of intense mania and severe depression.
Some severe mental illnesses include schizophrenia, major depression, and bipolar disorder.
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Treatment needs to focus on fewer antidepressants, more lithium and supportive group education.
Ketamine is effective for those who do not respond to traditional anti-depressants. It also shows promise for the treatment of PTSD and bipolar disorder.
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Media portrayals don't help misconceptions about disorders such as bipolar, schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder. So what do these terms actually mean?
Mariah Carey in Inglewood, Calif. on March 24, 2018.
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Despite efforts to address the issue, the life expectancy gap between those with and without mental illness has remained consistent over two decades. However the causes of death have changed.
Long-term treatment with lithium has improved memory and learning in rats.
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Lithium is present naturally in many water systems and was once considered an elixir. It has long been used to treat bipolar disorder, but researchers have also started exploring its role in dementia.
Bradley Cooper’s character in Silver Linings Playbook had bipolar disorder.
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Quetiapine, sold under the brand name Seroquel, is a short-acting antipsychotic drug to treat major mental illnesses. It has also been increasingly prescribed off-label for insomnia.
Gender is a an important determinant of mental health.
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Gender is important in defining susceptibility and exposure to a number of mental health risks. Gender can also explain differences in mental health outcomes.
The physical health of people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder is often overshadowed by their mental health issues.
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Critics have portrayed ECT as a form of medical abuse. Yet many psychiatrists, and more importantly, patients, consider it to be safe and effective. Few medical treatments have such disparate images.