This brochure was made possible through an unrestrictededucational grant from GlaxoSmithKline.

&Bipolar Disorder

AfricanAmericans

Bipolar disorder can be treated

There is hope. People with bipolar disordercan be helped by treatment. Treatment caninclude:

• Medication — The doctor mayrecommend one or more medicines to findwhat works best.

• Counseling — Often, psychotherapy orother forms of counseling are used incombination with medication.

• Peer Support — The advice and support ofothers who have bipolar disorder can aidrecovery.

• Complementary Care — Some peoplebenefit from exercise, stress reductionclasses and other activities to complementtheir treatment and help them managetheir illness.

• ECT, or electroconvulsive therapy — Thisis used as a last resort to treat severe boutsof depression and suicidal thoughts. It'sonly considered when medication andtherapy haven't worked.

If you think that you or someone you knowhas bipolar disorder, talk with your primarycare physician or faith leader. However, onlya mental health professional can tell if aperson has bipolar disorder and properlytreat it. Once in treatment, it is importantthat the person receive the support andunderstanding of friends and family. Manypeople also find strength and supportthrough their religious and spiritualaffiliations.

For more information

Contact your local Mental HealthAssociation or

National Mental Health Association2001 N. Beauregard Street, 12th Floor

Alexandria, VA 22311(800) 969-NMHAwww.nmha.org

National Medical Association(for a list of African American doctors)

(888) 662-7497www.nmanet.org

Black Psychiatrists of America(510) 834-7103

American Association of Pastoral Counselors(703) 385-6967www.aapc.org

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance(800) 826-3632

www.ndmda.org

American Psychiatric Association(888) 357-7924

www.psych.org

“Every person, regardless of race orethnicity, should seek help if they have amental health problem or symptoms of amental disorder.”

—David Satcher, M.D.Former U.S. Surgeon General

n estimated 2.3 million Americans have bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive illness. A person

with bipolar disorder can go from feelingvery, very high (called mania) to feelingvery, very low (depression). With propertreatment, people can control these moodswings and lead fulfilling lives. While therate of bipolar disorder is the same amongAfrican Americans as it is among otherAmericans, African Americans are less likelyto receive a diagnosis and, therefore,treatment for this illness.

Several factors have contributed to AfricanAmericans not receiving help for bipolardisorder and other mental illnesses. Some ofthe reasons are:

• A mistrust of health professionals, basedin part on historically higher-than-averageinstitutionalization of African Americanswith mental illness; and on previousmistreatments, like such tragic events asthe Tuskegee syphilis study.

• Cultural barriers between many doctorsand their patients.

• Reliance on family and religiouscommunity, rather than mental healthprofessionals, during times of emotionaldistress.

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• A tendency to talk about physicalproblems, rather than discuss mentalsymptoms, or to mask symptoms withsubstance abuse or other medicalconditions.

• Socioeconomic factors which can limitaccess to medical and mental health care.About 25 percent of African Americans donot have health insurance.

• Continued misunderstanding and stigmaabout mental illness.

Signs of bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder often starts in the teenyears, but can emerge in later life. It is apotentially life-threatening illness that aperson cannot handle alone. Tragically, oneof five people with bipolar disorder commitssuicide. The signs of bipolar disorderinclude:

Mania

• Excessive energy, restlessness, racingthoughts and rapid talking

• Denial that anything is wrong • Extremely happy feelings • Easily irritated • Needing little sleep • Unrealistic belief in one's ability • Poor judgment • Sustained, unusual behavior • Increased sex drive • Increased risk-taking behavior, including

reckless driving or substance abuse • Substance abuse • Aggressive behavior • Paranoia

Depression

• Poor appetite or eating too much • Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much • Nervousness and worry • Loss of interest in and withdrawal from

usual activities • Feelings of sadness that don't go away • Irritability or restlessness • Lack of energy • Feelings of sadness, worthlessness or

guilt • Inability to think or concentrate • Repeated thoughts of death or suicide • Chronic pain or other physical problems

that don't respond to treatment

No one knows for certain what causesbipolar disorder. But its causes mayinclude:

• Brain chemistry — There are chemicalchanges or imbalances in the brain duringboth extremes of behavior (mania anddepression).

• Genetics — Close relatives of peoplewith bipolar disorder are 10 to 20 timesmore likely to get depression or bipolardisorder than other people.

• Drug and alcohol abuse — More thanhalf of the people diagnosed with bipolardisorder have histories of substanceabuse. In some cases, substance abuseprecedes the development of theproblem; in others, alcohol or other drugsmay be used as a form of self-medication.

• Stressful or disturbing events — Bothcan cause mood swings