First an inexplicable sadness, tiredness and apathy. Then an apparent well-being, euphoria, courage and unscrupulousness. Down and up, up and down: living with bipolar disorder is like staying on a swing forever.
But it is possible to go down, as long as you follow the right therapies, which are too often prescribed very late due to missed and incorrect diagnoses. Bipolar disorder, in fact, is often confused with depression and the correct diagnosis can arrive ten years late. On the occasion of the dedicated World Day, which will be celebrated tomorrow 30 March, the Italian Society of Psychiatry (Sip) launches an appeal to doctors and specialists so that they “do not fall into the trap of hasty and wrong diagnoses”. In the ‘Coffee and Psychiatry’ program broadcast tomorrow, on the Psychiatry online Italia YouTube channel, Sip president Emi Bondi explains that “a poorly treated bipolar disorder, like a ‘normal’ depression, can have important consequences on the lives of patients. It is It’s good to listen to them and take an accurate medical history.”
Bipolar disorder is a widespread psychiatric disorder. It is estimated that between 1 and 2% of the Italian population suffer from it, around 120 thousand people. 80 million in the world. “Although we sometimes tend to make fun of bipolarity, it is a serious illness – continues Bondi – phases of profound depression, anguish and sadness alternate with phases of extreme euphoria and exaltation which, at times, can lead to unscrupulous and dangerous behavior for themselves and others.”
This swing of emotions is often not correctly identified. “First of all, it is the patient himself who finds it difficult to recognize it: while the depressive episode is recognizable – explains President Sip – the recovery phase is experienced in a positive way. There may be little awareness and acceptance in asking for help and treatment. But the The euphoric phase can be even more dangerous because the patient can carry out actions that he regrets later and which can create a void around him.” The alternation of phases can push you to ask for help only in the depressive phase and the doctor to limit himself to treating only this one. By intercepting the pathology well and early, however, with the use of mood stabilizers it is possible to treat it well.
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