For 13 years, the American singer has been placed under guardianship because of the bipolar disorder she suffers from.
- Bipolar disorder usually manifests in early adulthood, but it can sometimes appear in the 60s or 70s.
- In women, it often begins with a depressive phase and a manic phase in men.
- According to the WHO, bipolarity is one of the ten most disabling pathologies.
Britney Spears is released. On Friday, November 12, American justice lifted the guardianship imposed on her in 2008. Until now, the singer could not make certain decisions concerning her personal life: for example, she could not re-marry or have the control over its finances. The placement under guardianship had been decided following psychological difficulties. The American star has bipolar disorder.
What is bipolar disorder?
This disease is characterized by intense mood swings: federation for brain research talk about a “exaggerated alternation of depressive and manic periods”. Depressive periods are defined as such when they last four days in a row. They are marked by great sadness, suicidal thoughts, loss of desire, fatigue, sleep disturbances, etc. Conversely, during the manic phases, the behavior is characterized by hyperactivity, euphoria, talkativeness, difficulty concentrating, even megalomania. Between these phases, the behavior of the affected person returns to the state “normal“.
How is bipolarity treated?
The management of people with bipolarity involves the prescription of mood stabilizers to reduce symptoms. Since the 1980s, lithium has been the most widely used product. It takes at least two years of mood stability to consider stopping treatment, but for some people it will need to be taken for life. In cases where the person is putting themselves or others at risk, hospitalization may be necessary. In parallel, it is recommended to start a psychological follow-up.
A number of cases difficult to assess
According to High Authority of Health, between 1 and 2.5% of the French population suffers from bipolarity, but this figure could be higher. It is often difficult to diagnose bipolar disorder, insofar as the intensity of the phases is not always equivalent. “Depressive episodes are predominant and more numerous, while episodes of mania – and especially hypomania – may go unnoticed by both the doctor and the patient who suffers them.“, explains the HAS. Bipolarity can also be confused with other pathologies, such as schizophrenia. The detection of the disease is nonetheless essential: one in two bipolar people will attempt suicide during their lifetime, and 15% of bipolar people will die from it.
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