Bipolar disorder, previously referred to as manic depression, is a diagnosis defined by periods of extreme and often inappropriate mood states. People may experience severe depression on some occasions and extreme mania (positive mood, high energy and unusual thought patterns) during others. Manic periods have also been associated with high productivity in the workplace and increased creativity.
It can often take a considerable amount of time for bipolar disorder to be diagnosed correctly given the individual needs to have had episodes of both depression and mania. Currently there are four subtypes of bipolar affective disorder, however they generally refer to different severity of symptoms. Individuals may stay in one subtype or change into another over the course of their illness. Bipolar affective disorder has often been linked to various anxiety disorders and substance dependencies.
Symptoms and characteristics
During episodes of depression, a person may demonstrate some or all of the general symptoms common to clinical/major depression. However, a manic episode is more often characterised by:
- increased energy and overactivity such as being highly goal orientated, driven and hardworking in the workplace
- a positive mood, for example being happy, full of energy, on top of the world, and feeling invincible
- needing less sleep than usual, often going days with very little sleep
- irritability, such as if others disagree with their unrealistic plans or ideas
- rapid thinking and speech whereby the person may talk too much, too fast or keep changing topics
- a lack of inhibitions where risks are disregarded, money is spent extravagantly or drives recklessly
- grandiose delusions whereby the person may have very inflated self-esteem, believe they are superhuman, especially talented or an important religious figure
- a lack of insight whereby the person is convinced that their manic delusions are real and that they do not realize they are ill.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
In the workplace there are various factors that would greatly assist those with Bipolar Affective Disorder better manage their symptoms. These include:
- flexible work arrangements including the use of annual leave when time off is required
- reducing responsibilities/workload and subsequent stress levels
- re-structuring the work environment, for example using privacy screens and reducing colour schemes to plain colours rather than bright
- developing a good workplace support network.
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
References
Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Mental Health Council Inc. and Betty Ann Kitchener and Anthony Francis Jorm at ORYGEN Research Centre, University of Melbourne 2006, Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace – an e-learning course, Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Canberra.
beyondblue 2008, What is Bipolar Disorder?, beyondblue, online, viewed 6 June 2011, http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=1.3.
Sane Australia 2010, Bipolar Disorder, Sane Australia, online, viewed 6 June 2011, http://www.sane.org/factsheets/bipolar_disorder.html.