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Bipolar Disorder, formerly known as Manic Depression,
is a highly disruptive brain disorder.
Since 1994 Pendulum.org has been the web's premier resource
for bipolar information.
The Pendulum Discussion Forums are better than ever.
Come in and chat with new friends in the
updated Bipolar section,
or visit the expanded section for friends and family.
Bipolar Disorder News (click here for news archives)
New Book on Treating Bipolar Disorder in Old Age - January 11, 2008
Two lead researchers in the area of geriatric bipolar disorder have written a book: Bipolar Disorder in Later Life, which is meant to help treat the increasing numbers of people afflicted with bipolar disorder in old age. The goal of the authors Martha Sajatovic from Case Western Reserve University and Frederic Blow from the University of Michigan, is to inform clinicians treating elderly bipolar disorder patients about new research in the field. For the book, Sajatovic and Blow asked for the participation of their peers in the field and according to a new review have produced a "... comprehensive, cohesive,
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Posted by szwriter at 12:31 PM
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New Book: Soul: The Treasury of Anne-Patrice - December 13, 2007
We want to announce a short book of poems published recently by Vantage Press, Inc. The book titled, Soul: The Treasury of Anne-Patrice, consists of poetry written by author Anne-Patrice Whaley-Tandy. Whaley-Tandy suffers from bipolar disorder and though her poetry in this book focuses on spirituality, she covers other subjects as well, including poems about her psychiatrist, psychologist and children. Here are a few excerpts: Nancy, Psychiatrist Though I've known her just a year I come to her with no fear because her questions pertain to not just how are you mentally, but where your life is leading actually. .
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Posted by szwriter at 3:26 PM
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Bipolar Disorder Improves With Routine Sleep Patterns? - December 13, 2007
Researchers that sleep is connected to bipolar disorder. That is, past research has shown that bipolar patients have difficulty with sleep and often suffer from sleep-related problems. Now new research is showing that routine sleep schedules can actually be beneficial to the outcomes of bipolar disorder. A new study which appears in this month's issue of the journal, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ANCP), examined two groups of adult bipolar patients receiving different treatment therapies and found that the group of patients who participated in interpersonal and rhythm therapies--these therapies involved the patients monitoring their daily routines--had longer periods without mania
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Posted by szwriter at 1:56 PM
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Impaired Emotional Perception in Bipolar Patients - December 11, 2007
We recently covered a study which found that children suffering from bipolar disorder are more likely to misread facial expressions and experience certain moods such as irritability and excessive happiness. Now a new study, published in last month's issue of The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, finds that the adults suffering from bipolar disorder are also prone to impaired emotional perception. For the study, 19 patients suffering from bipolar disorder I and in remission were compared to 22 healthy individuals (both groups were matched for age, gender, education, etc.) . The participants were all given an Affective Prosody Test
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Posted by szwriter at 2:01 PM
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Book: Manic-Depressive Illness, 2nd Ed. - December 11, 2007
Goodwin, Frederick K. and Jamison, Kay Redfield. Manic-Depressive Illness: Bipolar Disorders and Recurrent Depression, 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press, USA. March 9, 2007 The long awaited Manic-Depressive Illness: Bipolar Disorders and Recurrent Depression, Second Edition, by Frederick K. Goodwin and Kay Redfield Jamison is finally in stores. Technorati: manic+depression bipolar+disorder
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Posted by daedalus at 6:03 AM
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A New Study on the Effects of Pregnancy on Bipolar Disorder - December 5, 2007
A new study published in this month's issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, examined three groups of pregnant women suffering from bipolar disorder. The goal of the study was to examine the course of bipolar disorder during pregnancy. Past studies have demonstrated that mothers suffering from bipolar disorder are at an increased risk for relapse during the postpartum period, i.e., the period of time immediately following childbirth. This risk has been shown to be higher for women (suffering from bipolar disorder) who aren't on mood stabilizers while pregnant, as compared to women who are on mood stabilizers while pregnant.
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Posted by szwriter at 12:10 PM
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New Database to Help Specify Genes Linked to Bipolar Disorder - November 28, 2007
Johns Hopkins University, Department of Psychiatry and the National Institute of Mental Health have teamed together to create a new, innovative and free database, which researchers are saying is going to increase their ability to pinpoint genes linked to bipolar disorder. The database, called The Bipolar Disorder Phenome Database, is revolutionary in its ability to offer "...detailed descriptions of symptoms and course of disease on more than 5,000 people with bipolar (disorder)..." Because DNA samples are available for this group, the database will let researchers correlate specific symptoms with sequences of genetic material. The new database...is meant to complement the
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Posted by szwriter at 11:52 AM
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New Study on Children With Bipolar Disorder & Their Response to Facial Expressions - November 27, 2007
As we've covered in the past, children with bipolar disorder often misread facial expressions. Now new research further supports this finding: Children with bipolar disorder respond differently to facial expressions than children without psychiatric disorders, according to a new study led by a Bradley Hospital researcher. These findings provide additional insight into the neurobiology of pediatric bipolar disorder. "Although we know a great deal clinically about bipolar disorder in kids, our understanding of its neurobiology is quite limited, making it difficult to design targeted treatments," said lead author Daniel P. Dickstein, M.D., director of the pediatric mood, imaging and neurodevelopment
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Posted by szwriter at 1:08 PM
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An Increased Risk for Suicide: Bipolar Disorder and a Family History of Suicide - November 15, 2007
A new study out of the UK shows that people who suffer from bipolar disorder and who also have a family history of suicide, may be at a higher risk for committing suicide themselves. Specifically, bipolar patients with a family history of suicide are three times more likely to attempt suicide than is the rest of the population. Yet this increased risk of suicide isn't concentrated around just bipolar patients. As Dr. Eduard Vieta, one of the study's authors states, a family history of suicide also increases the risk of suicide for people who suffer from other mental illnesses. He's
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Posted by szwriter at 12:10 PM
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Discussion: Research Findings on the Psychological Causes and Treatments of Bipolar Disorder - November 12, 2007
We've covered past research that demonstrates how high levels of certain kinds of expressed emotion have negative effects on the mental health of children. Recently, researchers at the University of Colorado discussed current research supporting this past research on bipolar disorder. A new story highlights their findings: Bipolar disorder is "a highly recurrent and debilitating illness." Research has demonstrated that certain types of expressed-emotion affect the development of bipolar disorder. Basically, certain negative attitudes in the home or from peers (such as critical ones, i.e., criticism) can increase not only the risk of developing bipolar disorder, but also the risk
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Posted by szwriter at 6:07 PM
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New Bipolar Disorder Studies at Stanford University - participants needed - November 7, 2007
Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine (in Palo Alto, California) are seeking volunteers for several research studies on bipolar disorder, which affects more than 10 million American adults. The illness typically requires lifelong treatment, and researchers have been studying which medications are the most effective. "We're aiming to enhance the treatment of bipolar disorder by exploring agents with greater efficacy for mood symptoms and/or greater physical tolerability," said Terence Ketter, MD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and chief of the Bipolar Disorders Clinic, who is leading the studies. Participants in each study must be ages 18 to
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Posted by szadmin at 1:32 PM
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Bipolar Disorder and Attitudes Toward Having Children - November 7, 2007
A new study out of Australia which will appear in the journal Psychological Medicine has found that over a third of relatives of people with bipolar disorder are afraid to have children. The reason for their fear seems mainly to be stigma associated with the disorder. Despite a lower risk as compared to other genetic disorders, bipolar disorder aroused a more negative attitude from the 200 people who participated in the study, which was conducted at University of New South Wales. Even more surprising is that over half of the participants suffer from bipolar disorder themselves. Researchers state that studies
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Posted by szwriter at 1:23 PM
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Signs of Bipolar Disorder in Teens and Young Adults - November 2, 2007
Recently, we've covered stories on bipolar disorder in youth. With the rise in the number of teens diagnosed, it's important to know what signs to look for. But as the story which recently appeared in The San Diego Union-Tribune points out, knowing the signs may not be enough. The problem is that many parents notice abnormal behavior in their children but chalk it up to an "adolescent or teenage phase" that will pass. And though this may be the case for most teens, for the best possible prognosis, those suffering from mental illness should be diagnosed and treated as soon
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Posted by szwriter at 11:15 AM
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Unipolar Depression and Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder - October 25, 2007
A new study brings to light the problem of incorrect or incomplete diagnosis for people afflicted with bipolar disorder. Patients receiving medication for depression or any mental dysfunction should consult the advice and guidance of a trained mental health professional. The study targeted 790 patients diagnosed with unipolar depression who had previously attended a GP practice in Darlington, Cleveland by sending them Mood Disorder Questionnaires (MDQ). Of the original 790, 278 patients returned the questionnaires and the results were that 24 percent had an episode of mania or mild mania. Subsequent assessment of the patients showed that half had bipolar
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Posted by szwriter at 11:09 AM
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Youth Interrupted - How one person's Bipolar Disorder led to a major Adolecent Mental Health Program - October 1, 2007
The Adolescent Mental Health Initiative is a major, University of Pennsylvania-led effort to address what one expert calls the "chronic diseases of the young." There is a good story this month in the University of Pennsylvania Alumni magazine on a major new mental health initiative that is taking place there. Its a story of hope - of how one person's struggle with bipolar disorder has led to a major adolescent mental health initiative that could help thousands, if not millions, of people. Following is a short quote from the story: Before Patrick Jamieson was able to get his bipolar disorder
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Posted by szadmin at 11:17 AM
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Treating and Preventing Adolescent Mental Health Disorders (Including Bipolar Disorder) - October 1, 2007
There is an excellent book on treating and preventing adolescent (teen) mental health disorders - including bipolar disorder - that has been made available for everyone to read on the internet. The book is (in total) 800 pages long - with a lot of valuable information for mental health workers and students studying issues related to mental health. Parents and individuals who have bipolar disorder might also benefit from the book - though it is somewhat technical. The book was first published in 2005. Here is the information most relevant to Bipolar Disorder: Part I. Depression and Bipolar Disorder Chapter
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Posted by szadmin at 9:15 AM
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New Studies Guide Treatment Recommendations for Bipolar Disorder - September 25, 2007
Two new studies provide information on best practices for treating people with bipolar disorder. The two studies are part of the NIMH-funded Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD). Both were published in the September 2007 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry. Antidepressants provide no added benefit for people with mixed symptoms, and may worsen existing mania Among STEP-BD participants who experienced manic symptoms while also in the midst of a depressive episode, those who received antidepressant medication along with a mood stabilizer recovered no faster than those who received a mood stabilizer plus placebo (sugar pill). The
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Posted by szadmin at 11:14 AM
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"A Day in the Life" of a Person who has Bipolar Disorder - Contest - September 13, 2007
One of the goals of our web site is to educate people about what living with bipolar disorder is like. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals wants to help you tell that story... and a lucky winner will even win $1000 for their submission! "A Day in the Life..." is a competition aimed at raising awareness of what it is like to live with bipolar disorder. Submissions are being accepted until September 28, 2007 and can include essays, drawings or paintings, music, video or audio. Following is a brief description: A Day in the Life… Contest Guidelines 2007 WHAT: As part of the 2007
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Posted by szadmin at 9:20 PM
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Bipolar Diagnosis Increasingly Common in Youth - September 4, 2007
The number of visits to a doctor's office that resulted in a diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents has increased by 40 times over the last decade, reported researchers funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Over the same time period, the number of visits by adults resulting in a bipolar disorder diagnosis almost doubled. The cause of these increases is unclear. Many experts theorize that the jump reflects that doctors are more expansively applying the diagnosis to children, and don't believe that the incidence of the disorder has increased. "From a developmental point of
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Posted by szadmin at 9:53 AM
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Growing Up with a Mentally Ill Mother - "Daughters of Madness", a New Book - August 26, 2007
Daughters of Madness is a new book on daughter's experiences of growing up with mentally ill mothers. The book is unique in that it includes an introduction on how children are affected by mentally ill parents and also covers the related research. The rest of the book is full of interviews, and personal stories of women who have experienced a mother suffering from mental illness. Although the book is about daughters and their mothers, anyone with a mentally ill parent or family member may find it beneficial. Susan Nathiel, the author, is an accomplished psychotherapist who is also a
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Posted by Michelle Roberts at 11:31 AM
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Great News!
Sister Leslie has brought the Bipolar Planet out of the backwaters of the Web.
The site is at
www.bipolarplanet.com.
Writings, poetry, and artwork by the tragically untalented Sister Leslie
and her bipolar cohorts,
and Leslie's new blog,
Into the Void: Back off man, I'm co-creating my reality.
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Famous Bipolar People
