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 Marcia Purse

Updated Articles and Resources

By Marcia Purse, About.com Guide since 1998

Updated Articles and Resources
  • Lithium: The First Mood Stabilizer Created: Tuesday, June 29, 2004 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
    The discovery that Lithium was a mood stabilizer for manic depression came 50 years before scientists unlocked the secret to how it works. For the last several decades, Lithium has been one of the ...
  • Restoril / Temazepam Side Effects Created: Saturday, November 29, 2003 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
    Catalogue of side effects for the medication Restoril - generic name Temazepam - which is used to treat insomnia and may be prescribed for use in managing bipolar disorder. Restoril is a benzodiaze...
  • Bipolar Depression in Pictures Created: Monday, April 22, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, May 01, 2013
    An original painting representing the 'tetchy' feeling in bipolar disorder. If you get crabby or cross often, even if you're not bipolar, you'll probably relate to this image.
  • Symptoms and Signs of Bipolar Disorder Created: Sunday, August 01, 2004 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
    Behaviors and symptoms that are warning signs of bipolar disorder in adults and children. Also: information on diagnosing bipolar disorder and treatment options for people with bipolar.
  • Talking About Disability for a Mental Illness Created: Monday, April 29, 2013 Updated: Monday, April 29, 2013
    If you're on Social Security Disability due to a mental illness, do you have friends, family or acquaintances disapprove? Do they feel like you're getting a living free, at their expense? Members o...
  • Depression in Pictures - Unopened Mail Created: Saturday, March 30, 2013 Updated: Saturday, April 27, 2013
    There are ways depression can do harm that non-depressed people probably never think about. Letting mail go unopened for weeks is one of them.
  • Hypomania in a Picture - Jane's Shorn Head Created: Sunday, April 21, 2013 Updated: Saturday, April 27, 2013
    Jane says her photo called Jane's Shorn Head illustrates her behavior during hypomanic episodes.
  • Images of Bipolar Mania and Hypomania Created: Sunday, April 21, 2013 Updated: Sunday, April 21, 2013
    Readers can submit a photo or drawing that represents an aspect of their bipolar depression, along with a description of the image.
  • Images of Bipolar Depression Created: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, April 10, 2013
    Readers can submit a photo or drawing that represents an aspect of their bipolar depression, along with a description of the image.
  • Christianity and Psychology Can Go Hand in Hand Created: Sunday, August 13, 2006 Updated: Saturday, March 30, 2013
    If, asks one of our readers, the authors of 'Psychology Debunked' are right that bipolar illness is phony, then what is happening? Another reader, with a degree in Christian Education, gives a comp...
  • Introducing Bipolar Depression Created: Thursday, February 16, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
    In this lesson we look at the basics of bipolar depression - the definition, causes, common symptoms and possible differences between the depression of Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder.
  • Bipolar Depression in Depth Created: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
    In Lesson 5 we take a close look at the many possible symptoms of bipolar depression: decreased energy and activity, emotional and physical issues, problem moods and changes in thinking. Included a...
  • What Are the Causes of Bipolar Disorder? Created: Sunday, January 29, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
    In Lesson 2 of Bipolar for Beginners, we take a look at what scientists believe are the causes - genetic, physical and psychological - of bipolar disorder. For whatever reason you want to know more...
  • Introducing Bipolar Disorder Created: Friday, January 06, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
    Are you newly diagnosed with bipolar disorder? Did you find out someone you care about has bipolar? Do you want to understand more about manic depression? Start here to find the accurate and honest...
  • Mania and Hypomania: The "Up" Moods of Bipolar Created: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, March 26, 2013
    In Lesson 3 of Bipolar for Beginners, you'll learn about mania and hypomania, the two mood states that are critical to the diagnosis of all the bipolar disorders. This information is presented in e...
  • Living in a Mixed State Created: Monday, March 18, 2013 Updated: Wednesday, March 20, 2013
    Formally diagnosing a bipolar mixed depressive episode takes a fair amount of jumping through hoops. But whether it's diagnosable or not, living in a state where you have symptoms of both depressio...
  • 10 Infuriating Things NOT to Say to Someone Who Has Bipolar Disorder Created: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 Updated: Saturday, March 16, 2013
    People say the most infuriating things to those who have bipolar. Have you heard these? Or have you said them? These sayings are never helpful and are almost guaranteed to annoy. Take a look.
  • The Treatment of Bipolar Disorder - Medications for Mania Created: Thursday, December 04, 2003 Updated: Saturday, March 16, 2013
    The primary method of treatment for bipolar disorder is pharmacological intervention - medications. The prescriptions for treatment are usually specific to mania or depression. Here's an overview o...
  • Religious Factors in Bipolar Disorder Created: Sunday, June 03, 2012 Updated: Saturday, March 16, 2013
    One of the symptoms of bipolar mania and hypomania is an increase in religious activities. At the same time, a significant portion of those with psychotic disorders experience religious delusions. ...
  • Bilateral Cingulotomy Created: Thursday, January 12, 2006 Updated: Saturday, March 16, 2013
    Bilateral cingulotomy is surgery that may be performed when all other treatment options for severe a mental illness have failed. This procedure is used to treat OCD, bipolar disorder, and major dep...
  • Lamictal and Weight Created: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 Updated: Saturday, March 16, 2013
    A look at the effect of Lamictal (lamotrigine) on weight. Answers the question of whether Lamictal causes weight gain.
  • Act Depressed and You Will Feel Depressed Created: Saturday, February 23, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, February 26, 2013
    When you are in a moderate depressive episode, what you do is often the key to how you feel. Here are 6 things to do that can increase your depression or drop you from feeling better to feeling wor...
  • Bipolar and Panic Attacks Created: Saturday, February 23, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, February 26, 2013
    Panic attacks are common among people who have bipolar disorder. They most often come as part of agitated depression. Here are tips and techniques from experts on dealing with panic attacks.
  • What Is Paranoia? Created: Sunday, November 16, 2003 Updated: Monday, February 18, 2013
    Here is a brief but comprehensive definition of paranoia, which may be present in bipolar disorder or schizophrenia as well as several other mental illnesses. Paranoia is a psychotic symptom.
  • Mania Symptoms - What Are Your Mania Symptoms Created: Monday, December 21, 2009 Updated: Monday, February 18, 2013
    Mania symptoms can include feeling amazingly happy or high, irritability, restlessness, grandiose behavior, psychotic experiences such as hallucinations, delusions or paranoia, decreased need for s...
  • Mania - Manic - Maniac Created: Friday, December 18, 2009 Updated: Monday, February 18, 2013
    When you hear the word maniac, what do you think of? A crazed killer might be one of the things that comes to mind. Unfortunately, too many people connect bipolar mania and manic depression with th...
  • How To Know When to Call Your Psychiatrist Created: Saturday, May 06, 2000 Updated: Monday, February 18, 2013
    How-to article explaining the warning signs that mean you should call your psychiatrist, and what to learn that will make you more aware of these warning signs.
  • What is the DSM-5? Created: Thursday, January 31, 2013 Updated: Monday, February 11, 2013
    The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association, defines mental illnesses giving codes that are used for diagnosis and insurance purpose...
  • Depression, Bipolar - Or PBA? Created: Thursday, February 07, 2013 Updated: Thursday, February 07, 2013
    Sudden, uncontrollable crying, and sometimes laughing, characterize a little-known illness called PBA, pseudobulbar affect. A majority of patients with these and other symptoms are misdiagnosed wit...
  • Service Dogs for Bipolar Disorder Created: Wednesday, January 12, 2005 Updated: Thursday, January 31, 2013
    Can those with psychiatric disorders such as bipolar disorder or depression benefit from interaction with animals? The answer is a resounding, “YES!” Not only can those with bipolar diso...
  • The Cats Who Saved My Life Created: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 Updated: Thursday, January 31, 2013
    Long-time About Bipolar Disorder Volunteer Joy tells how foster parenting a kitten (or puppy) can be true treatment for bipolar depression, as well as providing a surprisingly easy way for animal l...
  • What is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV)? Created: Sunday, November 30, 2003 Updated: Thursday, January 31, 2013
    If you've heard of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (the DSM-IV) mentioned and wondered what it is, wonder no more. Here is a brief but clear description of the DSM-IV that...

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