I have recently watched an interesting episode from “Doctor House” where a journalist who lost the ability to speak and had a specific neurological disorder was described. He had serious problems with health, but the problem was that he could not speak distinctly and mixed basic concepts in his mind, thus being unable to explain what was wrong with him. In the end, doctor House managed to find out that the patient had bipolar disorder, so this diagnosis appeared interesting for me – especially because of the way it was explained and guessed by House.
A bipolar disorder is an “occurrence of episodes at both ends of the mood spectrum.” It may be characterized by the state of extreme euphoria medically termed ‘mania’, excessive activity, poor judgment, accelerated speech, depression, etc. In general, it may develop in a person because of taking certain drugs, which was the situation with the patient in the episode.
The main fact about the disorder is that it is classified as one of the mood disorders – according to the DSM-IV scheme it has the following characteristics – “disorders that involve extremes in mood that cause people to feel inappropriately sad or highly elated or to swing between these extremes.” It is fair about the case described in the episode – the patient got into every possible trouble in the pursuit of adrenaline, tried all risky kinds of sports, and risked his life in the tropical countries hunting, revealed the crimes of dangerous criminals, etc.
The disorder is commonly treated with lithium. This medical substance helps eliminate the ups and downs of peak mood conditions happening because of the disease.