Many of these people have been successfully treated for the disorder and no longer have any symptoms of it. Others are still actively taking medications for it.

Listed in alphabetical order, with their profession and birthdate, where known. This is not a complete list by any means, but it does give you a flavor of how prevalent and widespread bipolar disorder is.

Famous People with Bipolar Disorder

Sophie Anderton - model

Ludwig Von Beethoven - composer

Maurice Benard - actor - March 1, 1963

Art Buchwald - writer, humorist

Tim Burton - director

Dick Cavett - actor, author, host - November 19, 1936

Rosemary Clooney - singer - May 23, 1928

Francis Ford Coppola - director

Evan Dando - singer

Robert Downey Jr. - actor

Patty Duke - actress - December 14, 1946

Carrie Fisher - actress/writer - October 21, 1956

Connie Francis - singer, actress - December 12, 1938

Linda Hamilton - actress - September 26, 1956

Mariette Hartley - actress - advocate - June 21, 1940

Kay Redfield Jamison - writer, psychologist

Margot Kidder - actress - October 17, 1948

Vivien Leigh - actress - November 5, 1913

Robert Lowell - poet - March 1, 1917

Burgess Meredith - actor - November 16, 1907

Charley Pride - country-western singer - March 18, 1938

Theodore Roosevelt - President of the United States

Axl Rose - rock singer - February 6, 1962

Ben Stiller - actor, director, writer, comedian - November 30, 1965

Sting - musician, actor - October 2, 1951

Darryl Strawberry - baseball player

Ted Turner - entrepreneur

Tracy Ullman - actress

Jean-Claude Van Damme - actor - October 18, 1960

Virginia Woolf - novelist - January 25, 1882

Psychiatric medication should not be used alone. The use of medication should be based on a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and be one part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Before recommending any medication, the child and adolescent psychiatrist interviews the youngster and makes a thorough diagnostic evaluation. In some cases, the evaluation may include a physical exam, psychological testing, laboratory tests, other medical tests such as an electrocardiogram (EKG) or electroencephalogram (EEG) , and consultation with other medical specialists.

Medications which have beneficial effects may also have side effects, ranging from just annoying to very serious. As each youngster is different and may have individual reactions to medication, close contact with the treating physician is recommended. Do not stop or change a medication without speaking to the doctor. Psychiatric medication should be used as part of a comprehensive plan of treatment, with ongoing medical assessment and, in most cases, individual and/or family psychotherapy. When prescribed appropriately by a psychiatrist (preferably a child and adolescent psychiatrist), and taken as prescribed, medication may reduce or eliminate troubling symptoms and improve the daily functioning of children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders.

Psychiatric medications can be an effective part of the treatment for psychiatric disorders of childhood and adolescence. In recent years there have been an increasing number of new and different psychiatric medications used with children and adolescents. Research studies are underway to establish more clearly which medications are most helpful for specific disorders and presenting problems. Clinical practice and experience, as well as research studies, help physicians determine which medications are most effective for a particular child. Before recommending any medication, the psychiatrist (preferably a child and adolescent psychiatrist) should conduct a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation of the child or adolescent. Parents should be informed about known risks and/or FDA warnings before a child starts any psychiatric medication. When prescribed appropriately by an experienced psychiatrist (preferably a child and adolescent psychiatrist) and taken as directed, medication may reduce or eliminate troubling symptoms and improve daily functioning of children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders.

Mood Stabilizers and Anticonvulsant Medications: These medications may be helpful in treating bipolar disorder, severe mood symptoms and mood swings (manic and depressive), aggressive behavior and impulse control disorders. Examples include: Lithium (lithium carbonate, Eskalith), Valproic Acid (Depakote, Depakene), Carbamazepine (Tegretol), Gabapentin (Neurontin), Lamotrigine (Lamictil), Topiramate (Topamax), and Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal).

General Tips for Gathering Information

Here are some tips that will make it easier for you to talk to your healthcare provider:

• Bring someone else with you. It helps to have another person hear what is said and think of questions to ask.
• Write out your questions ahead of time, so you don’t forget them.
• Write down the answers you get and make sure you understand what you are hearing. Ask for clarification, if necessary.
• Don’t be afraid to ask your questions or ask where you can find more information about what you are discussing. You have a right to know.

Specific Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Provider

About Bipolar Disorder

What can I do to keep these symptoms from interfering with my ability to function in my relationships, work, and home life?

About Treatment Options

• What treatment options are available for me?
• What medications might help me and how long will they take to work?
• What side effects can I expect from my medications and what can I do about them?
• Do you treat people with bipolar disorder?
• If not, can you provide me with the names of mental health professionals who help people with bipolar disorder?

About Counseling

If you decide to try counseling, interview counselors, social workers, psychologists, and/or family therapists who specialize in working with people (and their families) who have bipolar disorder. Make sure that you feel comfortable with the mental health professional. Some questions you may want to ask are:

• What training and experience do you have in treating bipolar disorder?
• How can you help my family members and significant others cope with my disorder?
• What is your basic approach to treatment?
• How long are the sessions and how often will I have them?
• What health insurance do you accept?
• Do you offer sliding scale fees to accompany various financial circumstances?

About Lifestyle Changes

• Are there any lifestyle changes that can help me to manage bipolar disorder?
• What resources are available that could help me with:
  o Eating better
  o Exercising regularly
  o Social support
  o Managing stress
  o Sleep and keeping a daily routine

About the Future

• What are my chances of successfully managing bipolar disorder?
• How can I prevent a recurrence of symptoms?
• What is likely to happen if I don’t take my medication?

There are no laboratory or medical tests for bipolar disorder. It not defined as a traditional medical disease, like diabetes or cancer. Instead, it’s classified as a “mental disorder,” meaning it is composed of a constellation of symptoms.

Bipolar disorder is often diagnosed based on the following:

Initial assessment

The professional will ask about your symptoms — when they started, how long they have lasted, how severe they are, whether you have had them before, and if so, whether the symptoms were treated and what treatment was given. You will also be asked about your medical and family history. In rare cases or for underage children, the mental health professional may wish to interview your family members and/or other persons close to you.

Psychological evaluation

After you see your regular healthcare provider, a mental health professional is probably the best person to evaluate your symptoms. Diagnosis of bipolar disorder is based on:

• Presence of symptoms over time
• Absence of medications that could cause mood symptoms or medical or neurological illness that may look like bipolar disorder
• Family history of bipolar disorder

Mania is diagnosed if abnormally elevated mood (lasting at least one week) occurs with three or more of the other symptoms of mania. If your mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.

Depression is diagnosed if depressed mood or loss of interest in pleasure occurs every day (or nearly every day) over the last two weeks, and is accompanied by five or more of the symptoms.

A diagnostic evaluation may include a mental status exam to determine if your speech, thought patterns, or memory have been affected, as sometimes happens in the case of bipolar disorder.

You may also be evaluated for other psychiatric conditions such as anxiety disorders and alcohol or drug abuse.

Physical exam

If you are initially seen by your family doctor or general practitioner, they may also give you a physical exam. You may be given several laboratory tests to rule out other causes for your moods and behavior such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism . If a physical cause for your symptoms is ruled out, you may be referred to a psychiatrist for a psychological evaluation.

It is possible to develop bipolar disorder with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing bipolar disorder. If you have a number of risk factors, ask your healthcare provider what you can do to reduce your risk.

Risk factors for bipolar disorder include:

Genetic Factors

Bipolar disorder can run in families. There is a high likelihood that there is a genetic component to this disorder. Eighty to ninety percent of individuals with bipolar disorder have a relative with either depression or bipolar disorder.

Medications and Medical Conditions

Medications such as corticosteroids, medical conditions such as thyroid disease, and neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s syndrome may present with features of bipolar disorder. The diagnosis of bipolar disorder is made only when none of these conditions are present.

Learning more

Learning more about bipolar disorder is the easiest thing a person can do to help themselves. There is a wealth of information online, but there are also some very good self-help books that provide an in-depth understanding of bipolar disorder and techniques that can be used to improve your daily life.

Getting support and understanding

During a manic phase you may be quite unaware that your actions are distressing or damaging to other people. Later, you may feel guilty and ashamed. It can be especially difficult if those around you seem afraid or hostile. It helps if you provide people with information about bipolar disorder.

After going through a manic depressive episode you may find it difficult to trust others, and may want to cut yourself off. These feelings are to be expected after experiencing such difficulties, but it may be far more helpful to talk through your emotions and experiences with friends, family, careers or a counselor.

There are now many support groups – both in the real world and online – where people who have gone through similar problems can come together to support each other. For instance, check out Psych Central’s Bipolar Support Group or the NeuroTalk Bipolar Support Group.

Managing your own condition

Self-management involves finding out about bipolar disorder and developing the skills to recognize and control mood swings early, before they become full blown.

It can be very difficult at first to tell whether a bipolar “high” is really the beginning of a manic episode or whether you are just feeling more confident, creative and socially at ease. It can be a strain watching out for symptoms all the time, particularly when you are first learning about the effect bipolar disorder might have on your life. There are various guides to self-managing bipolar disorder. They may feature checklists and exercises to help you recognize and control mood swings, like mood diaries, tips on self-medication, and practical tips for dealing with depression and mania. Self management is by no means instant, and can take some time to use effectively. However, you may find you need to rely less on professionals, and have more control over mood swings. This can lead to greater self-confidence and lessens relapse.

Day-to-day life

Routine is important, as well as good diet, enough sleep, exercise and enough vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. Gentle stress free activities also help, like yoga or swimming. You could also try complementary therapies, such as reflexology and massage.

Working life

It’s important to take things slowly and avoid stressful situations. If you already have a job, you might want to find out if you can return on a part-time basis to start with. If you are a student, most colleges and universities will offer good support and advice.

Recovery

Bipolar disorder need not be chronic and it can be possible to recover. There is a growing recovery movement among survivors. Developing countries have a far higher non-relapse rate than industrialized countries. Great recovery tools are hope, love, support and work.

The “highs” or manic episodes are characterized by extreme happiness, hyperactivity, little need for sleep and racing thoughts, which may lead to rapid speech. Symptoms of the “lows” or depressive periods include extreme sadness, a lack of energy or interest in things, an inability to enjoy normally pleasurable activities and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. On average, someone with bipolar disorder has three years of normal mood between episodes of mania or depression.

Those with bipolar disorder often describe their experience as being on an emotional roller coaster. Cycling up and down between strong emotions can keep a person from functioning normally. The emotions, thoughts and behavior of a person with bipolar disorder are beyond his control friends, co-workers and family must intervene to protect his interests. This makes the condition exhausting not only for the sufferer, but for those in contact with him as well.

Bipolar disorder can create many difficulties. Manic episodes can lead to family conflict or financial problems, especially when the person with bipolar disorder appears to behave erratically and irresponsibly. During the manic phase, people often become impulsive and act aggressively. This can result in high-risk behavior, such as repeated intoxication, extravagant spending and risky sexual behavior.

During severe manic or depressed episodes, people with bipolar disorder may have symptoms that overwhelm their ability to deal with reality. This inability to distinguish reality from unreality results in psychotic symptoms such as hearing voices, paranoia, visual hallucinations, and false beliefs of special powers or identity. They may have distressing periods of great sadness alternating with euphoric optimism (a “natural high”) and/or rage that is not typical of the person during periods of wellness. These abrupt shifts of mood interfere with reason, logic and perception to such a drastic degree that those affected may be unaware of the need for help. However, if left untreated, bipolar disorder can seriously affect every aspect of a person’s life.

Identifying the first episode of mania or depression and receiving early treatment is essential to managing bipolar disorder. In most cases, a depressive episode occurs before a manic episode, and many patients are treated initially as if they have major depression. Usually, the first recognized episode of bipolar disorder is a manic episode. Once a manic episode occurs, it becomes clearer that the person is suffering from an illness characterized by alternating moods. Because of this difficulty with diagnosis, family history of similar illness and/or episodes is particularly important. Patients who first seek treatment as a result of a depressed episode may continue to be treated as someone with unipolar depression until a manic episode develops. Ironically, treatment of depressed bipolar patients with antidepressants can trigger a manic episode in some patients.

The estimated average age for the onset of bipolar disorder is during the early 20s, although the illness may begin as early as when a child enters elementary school. In fact, the illness appears before age 20 in about one in five manic individuals.

Younger patients first may suffer cyclothymia. Although people with cyclothymia display less intense symptoms, nearly half of them will progress to having a full manic episode. Younger patients who have full manic episodes are called juvenile bipolar patients.

Although, no one is quite sure about the exact causes of bipolar disorder, researchers have found these important clues:

Genetic factors in Bipolar Disorder

• Bipolar disorder tends to be familial, meaning that it “runs in families.” About half the people with bipolar disorder have a family member with a mood disorder, such as depression.
• A person who has one parent with bipolar disorder has a 15 to 25 percent chance of having the condition.
• A person who has a non-identical twin with the illness has a 25 percent chance of illness, the same risk as if both parents have bipolar disorder.
• A person who has an identical twin (having exactly the same genetic material) with bipolar disorder has an even greater risk of developing the illness about an eightfold greater risk than a nonidentical twin.
• Studies of adopted twins (where a child whose biological parent had the illness is raised in an adoptive family untouched by the illness) has helped researchers learn more about the genetic causes vs. environmental and life events causes.

Neurochemical Factors in Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is primarily a biological disorder that occurs in a specific area of the brain and is due to the dysfunction of certain neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers, in the brain. These chemicals may involve neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, serotonin and probably many others. As a biological disorder, it may lie dormant and be activated on its own or it may be triggered by external factors such as psychological stress and social circumstances.

Environmental Factors in Bipolar Disorder

• A life event may trigger a mood episode in a person with a genetic disposition for bipolar disorder.
• Even without clear genetic factors, altered health habits, alcohol or drug abuse, or hormonal problems can trigger an episode.
• Among those at risk for the illness, bipolar disorder is appearing at increasingly early ages. This apparent increase in earlier occurrences may be due to underdiagnosis of the disorder in the past. This change in the age of onset may be a result of social and environmental factors that are not yet understood.
• Although substance abuse is not considered a cause of bipolar disorder, it can worsen the illness by interfering with recovery. Use of alcohol or tranquilizers may induce a more severe depressive phase.

What is Medication-triggered Mania?

Medications such as antidepressants can trigger a manic episode in people who are susceptible to bipolar disorder. Therefore, a depressive episode must be treated carefully in those people who have had manic episodes. Because a depressive episode can turn into a manic episode when an antidepressant medication is taken, an antimanic drug is also recommended to prevent a manic episode. The antimanic drug creates a “ceiling,” partially protecting the person from antidepressant-induced mania.

Certain other medications can produce a “high” that resembles mania. Appetite suppressants, for example, may trigger increased energy, decreased need for sleep and increased talkativeness. After stopping the medication, however, the person returns to his normal mood.

Substances that can cause a manic-like episode include:

• Illicit drugs such as cocaine, “designer drugs” such as Ecstasy and amphetamines.
• Excessive doses of certain over-the-counter drugs, including appetite suppressants and cold preparations.
• Nonpsychiatric medications, such as medicine for thyroid problems and corticosteroids like prednisone.
• Excessive caffeine (moderate amounts of caffeine are fine).

If a person is vulnerable to bipolar disorder, stress, frequent use of stimulants or alcohol, and lack of sleep may prompt onset of the disorder. Certain medications also may set off a depressive or manic episode. If you have a family history of bipolar disorder, notify your physician so as to help avoid the risk of a medication-induced manic episode.

What characterizes an abnormal mood swing such as this is that the moods are experienced as extremes. Bipolar disorder isn’t just the occasional feeling up being “energetic” one day and a little sad the next. For people with bipolar disorder, the symptoms are really life-altering, functioning their ability to go to work, carry on their relationships with others, and feel good about themselves.

Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these changes in mood. The periods of highs are called mania, and those of the lows are called depression. Most often experience periods of normal mood patterns in between these highs and lows.

Symptoms of bipolar disorder typically include:

• Dramatic mood swings ranging from elated excitability to hopeless despondency
• Periods of normal mood in between
• Extreme changes in energy and behavior

An important distinction between bipolar disorder and the normal emotions of life is that bipolar disorder results in an inability to handle daily activities. The person cannot work or communicate effectively and may have a distorted sense of reality (for example, unrealistically high or low opinion of one’s skills).

Bipolar disorder often is not recognized by the patient, relatives, friends or even physicians. However, recognizing the mood states that occur is essential. Treatment can help a person with bipolar disorder avoid harmful consequences such as destruction of personal relationships, job loss and suicide.

During a manic phase, symptoms include:

• heightened sense of self-importance
• exaggerated positive outlook
• significantly decreased need for sleep
• poor appetite and weight loss
• racing speech, flight of ideas, impulsiveness
• ideas that move quickly from one subject to the next
• poor concentration, easy distractibility
• increased activity level
• excessive involvement in pleasurable activities
• poor financial choices, rash spending sprees
• excessive irritability, aggressive behavior

During a depressed phase, symptoms include:

• feelings of sadness or hopelessness
• loss of interest in pleasurable or usual activities
• difficulty sleeping; early-morning awakening
• loss of energy and constant lethargy
• sense of guilt or low self-esteem
• difficulty concentrating
• negative thoughts about the future
• weight gain or weight loss
• talk of suicide or death

The main method used to diagnose bipolar disorder is a thorough interview with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health professional. Although there are written methods for documenting the severity and number of symptoms, those tests only complement a complete interview. They do not substitute for a face-to-face evaluation by a professional. There are not yet any blood tests or other biological tests that can be used to diagnose bipolar disorder.

Mania

During this phase, people have an elevated mood, or “high,” which includes feelings of increased self-esteem and uniqueness. They often overestimate how much they can do and the quality of their ideas. Judgment becomes impaired and patients feel powerful over painful consequences. They feel “bulletproof” and have little regret or concern for their actions. They may have many ideas and lots of energy to carry them out.

The abundance of thoughts may be difficult to follow; such thoughts are called racing thoughts or pressured speech. People in manic episode may feel such an extreme pressure to keep talking that others do not have the opportunity to interrupt them. Manic patients’ minds are working so fast that they come up with rhymes or sing-song phrases, burst out in song or start dancing spontaneously. Their daily behavior can become disorganized or even dangerous to the point that they require hospitalization.

Manic episodes can also have psychotic symptoms present. Psychosis is a state in which a person is unable to tell the difference from reality and unreality. Psychosis symptoms include hallucinations, false beliefs about having special powers or identity (such as superhuman strength or X-ray vision). Psychotic symptoms indicate a severe mood episode that requires immediate medical attention and treatment.

People experiencing mania might begin several activities at once, never doubting that they can complete all of them. They may have so much energy that they operate on two or three hours of sleep each day. All of this energy can exhaust the family, friends and co-workers of a person with bipolar disorder.

Depression

During this phase, people with bipolar disorder may stay in bed all day, often feeling that they cannot get going. They may feel that their thoughts move slowly, and they take little pleasure in any activity. Bipolar patients in a depressed phase often feel as if they are worthless and as if their life is meaningless. They may begin to overeat and, given their low activity level, gain weight. They may speak or think of suicide, making emergency care crucial for their safety. Just as in a manic episode, psychotic symptoms may also occur during severe depressive episodes.

Mixed episode

This is a mood episode during which the symptoms of depression and mania are experienced at the same time. This can lead to irritability, hostility and physical aggression. Patients often are hospitalized for their safety and the safety of those around them. They may need a longer hospital stay or a combination of more than one medication to get well.

Rapid cycling

This term describes the overall course of the illness over a period of 12 months. A patient with rapid cycling bipolar disorder has four or more manic, hypomanic, depressive or mixed episodes in a 12-month period. Rapid cycling bipolar disorder is difficult to treat and often is less responsive to medication. Treatment usually requires a combination of medications. This condition is more common in women, especially women who have a problem with the thyroid gland, which can involve a hormonal imbalance that mimics mania or depression. An estimated 15 to 20 percent of bipolar patients will develop rapid cycling.

Seasonal pattern

This term describes mood disorders that seem to be triggered by a particular season of the year. For example, someone who tends to become depressed during the late fall and winter and then returns to a regular mood during the spring and summer has a seasonal pattern of depression. In bipolar disorder, a seasonal-pattern patient would tend to have manic or hypomanic episodes during a specific season of the year. During the other seasons, their mood would tend to be normal neither manic nor depressed. The fall/winter depression pattern is more common than the spring/summer pattern. Suicide is far more common in March, April and May, probably due to changes in light.

If you want to learn more about what differentiates specific types of bipolar disorder and the diagnostic criteria for each, read the official diagnostic criteria for Bipolar Disorder.

Treatment for bipolar disorder falls into three categories:

Acute treatment suppresses current symptoms and continues until remission, which occurs when the symptoms are diminished for a period of time.

Continuation treatment prevents a return of symptoms from the same episode.

Maintenance treatment prevents a recurrence of symptoms. The risks of long-term medication use must be weighed against the risk of getting sick again (relapse).

The types of treatment that are commonly used for bipolar disorder include:

• Mood stabilizers - Learn more about mood stabilizers for bipolar disorder
• Combination therapy - Learn more about combination therapy for bipolar disorder
• Antidepressants - Learn more about antidepressants for bipolar disorder
• Psychotherapy

You can monitor your own treatment progress by keeping a daily mood chart. This will enable you to keep track of your moods, sleep patterns, medication and side effects, and activities. Also keep track of why you think changes occur, for example poor night’s sleep or working late.

What doesn’t work

The following strategies are ineffective and should be avoided:

• Using intoxicants, such as alcohol, to feel better or get to sleep
• Telling a family member to snap out of it or get back to their old self
• Shaming a person for not meeting obligations and responsibilities

Who treats bipolar disorder?

Arranging for professional help does work. Psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses and licensed clinical social workers are skilled in the diagnosis of mental disorders; people who believe they have a mood disorder should seek them out.

People who are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, such as life-endangering impulsive behavior (e.g., substance abuse, promiscuity or aggressiveness) or psychotic symptoms (e.g., hallucinations or delusions), as well as anyone who is severely suicidal, should be evaluated by a physician. Depending on the level of potential harm to self or others, they should go to an emergency room. Doctors there often will refer them to a psychiatrist for further treatment. In some cases, hospitalization in a psychiatric facility is a standard approach.

Prognosis

With treatment, the outlook for bipolar disorder is favorable. Most people respond to a medication and or combination of medications. Approximately 50 percent of people will respond to lithium alone. An additional 20 to 30 percent will respond to another medication or combination of medications. Ten to 20 percent will have chronic (unresolved) mood symptoms despite treatment. Approximately 10 percent of bipolar patients will be very difficult to treat and have frequent episodes with little response to treatment. On average, a person is free of symptoms for about five years between the first and second episodes. As time goes on, the interval between episodes may shorten, especially in cases in which treatment is discontinued too soon. It is estimated that a person with bipolar disorder will have an average of eight to nine mood episodes during his or her lifetime.

Another type of depression is called Dysthymia. Dysthymia is similar to Major Depressive Disorder, but the symptoms occur over a much longer period of time – more than 2 years. This is considered a chronic form of depression, and treatment can be challenging as an individual with Dysthymia has often already tried all manner of treatment. Individuals diagnosed with this condition can also suffer from occasional bouts of Major Depressive Disorder.

A third type of depression is referred to as Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood. This condition is diagnosed when a person is adjusting to some new facet or change in their lives that has caused a great deal of stress. This disorder can even be diagnosed when a person is experiencing a good event in their life – such as a new marriage or a baby being born. Because the individual usually just needs a little additional support in their lives during this stressful time, treatment is time-limited and simple.

Another kind of depression is called Seasonal Affective Disorder. People with Seasonal Affective Disorder suffer the symptoms of a Major Depressive Disorder only during a specific time of year, usually winter. This appears to be related to the shorter days of winter, and the lack of sunlight in many parts of the country.

Depression is also a symptom of other disorders, such as Bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is sometimes considered a “mood disorder,” but is not a form of depression. Bipolar disorder is characterized by swings of a person’s mood from depression to mania (mania is characterized by lots of energy and a person feeling like they are on top of the world and can do almost anything, often trying to do just that).

After pregnancy, hormonal changes in a woman’s body may trigger symptoms of depression. More than half of the women suffering from postpartum depression will experience it again with the birth of another child. It is critical to identify this danger and treat it early. During pregnancy, the amount of two female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, in a woman’s body increases greatly. In the first 24 hours after childbirth, the amount of these hormones rapidly drops back down to their normal non-pregnant levels. Researchers think the fast change in hormone levels may lead to depression, just as smaller changes in hormones can affect a woman’s moods before she gets her menstrual period.

Like any mental disorder, depression is best diagnosed by a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, who has specific experience and training in making an accurate diagnosis. While a family physician or general practitioner can also make a diagnosis of depression, you should also obtain a referral to a mental health professional for follow-up care.

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Teenagers experience depression in a manner very similar to adults, but they may experience their emotions more intensely and with greater volatility. Feeling down about a relationship issue or an upcoming exam is normal. Feeling down for months at a time for no particular reason, however, may be a sign of undiagnosed depression.

Teen depression is a serious issue, but can be helped when you know the symptoms. Though the term “depression” can describe a normal human emotion, it also can refer to a mental disorder. Depressive illness in teenagers is defined when the feelings of depression persist and interfere with the teen’s ability to function.

Depression is fairly common in teens and younger children. About 5 percent of children and adolescents in the general population suffer from depression at any given point in time. Teens under stress, who experience loss, or who have attentional, learning, conduct or anxiety disorders are at a higher risk for depression. Teenage girls are at especially high risk, as are minority youth.

Depressed youth often have problems at home. In many cases, the parents are depressed, as depression tends to run in families. Over the past 50 years, depression has become more common and is now recognized at increasingly younger ages. As the rate of depression rises, so does the teen suicide rate.

It is important to remember that the behavior of depressed children and teenagers may differ from the behavior of depressed adults. The characteristics vary, with most children and teens having additional psychiatric disorders, such as behavior disorders or substance abuse problems.

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Cognitive behavioral therapy (also known by its abbreviation, CBT) is a short-term, goal-oriented psychotherapy treatment that takes a hands-on, practical approach to problem-solving. Its goal is to change patterns of thinking or behavior that are behind people’s difficulties, and so change the way they feel. It is used to help treat a wide range of issues in a person’s life, from sleeping difficulties or relationship problems, to drug and alcohol abuse or anxiety and depression. CBT works by changing people’s attitudes and their behavior by focusing on the thoughts, images, beliefs and attitudes that we hold (our cognitive processes) and how this relates to the way we behave, as a way of dealing with emotional problems.

An important advantage of cognitive behavioral therapy is that it tends to be short, taking four to seven months for most emotional problems. Clients attend one session per week, each session lasting approximately 50 minutes. During this time, the client and therapist are working together to understand what the problems are and to develop a new strategy for tackling them. CBT introduces them to a set of principles that they can apply whenever they need to, and which will stand them in good stead throughout their lives.

Cognitive behavioral therapy can be thought of as a combination of psychotherapy and behavioral therapy. Psychotherapy emphasizes the importance of the personal meaning we place on things and how thinking patterns begin in childhood. Behavioral therapy pays close attention to the relationship between our problems, our behavior and our thoughts.

The History of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

In the 1960s, Aaron T. Beck, a psychiatrist, observed that during his analytical sessions, his patients tended to have an internal dialogue going on in their minds, almost as if they were talking to themselves. But they would only report a fraction of this kind of thinking to him.

For example, in a therapy session the client might be thinking to him- or herself: “He (the therapist) hasn’t said much today. I wonder if he’s annoyed with me?” These thoughts might make the client feel slightly anxious or perhaps annoyed. He or she could then respond to this thought with a further thought: “He’s probably tired, or perhaps I haven’t been talking about the most important things.” The second thought might change how the client was feeling.

Beck realized that the link between thoughts and feelings was very important. He invented the term automatic thoughts to describe emotion-filled thoughts that might pop up in the mind. Beck found that people weren’t always fully aware of such thoughts, but could learn to identify and report them. If a person was feeling upset in some way, the thoughts were usually negative and neither realistic nor helpful. Beck found that identifying these thoughts was the key to the client understanding and overcoming his or her difficulties.

Beck called it cognitive therapy because of the importance it places on thinking. It’s now known as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) because the therapy employs behavioral techniques as well. The balance between the cognitive and the behavioral elements varies among the different therapies of this type, but all come under the umbrella term cognitive behavior therapy. CBT has since undergone successful scientific trials in many places by different teams, and has been applied to a wide variety of problems.

The Importance of Negative Thoughts

CBT is based on a model or theory that it’s not events themselves that upset us, but the meanings we give them. If our thoughts are too negative, it can block us seeing things or doing things that don’t fit – that disconfirm – what we believe is true. In other words, we continue to hold on to the same old thoughts and fail to learn anything new.

For example, a depressed woman may think, “I can’t face going into work today: I can’t do it. Nothing will go right. I’ll feel awful.” As a result of having these thoughts – and of believing them – she may well ring in sick. By behaving like this, she won’t have the chance to find out that her prediction was wrong. She might have found some things she could do, and at least some things that were okay. But, instead, she stays at home, brooding about her failure to go in and ends up thinking: “I’ve let everyone down. They will be angry with me. Why can’t I do what everyone else does? I’m so weak and useless.” That woman probably ends up feeling worse, and has even more difficulty going in to work the next day. Thinking, behaving and feeling like this may start a downward spiral. This vicious circle can apply to many different kinds of problems.

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