Advanced Nutrition and Food Therapy – Advanced Nutrition for Bipolar Disorder
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ANFT Assignment – Bipolar Disorder
fiona hopkins
fiona hopkins
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Advanced Nutrition and Food Therapy
Assignment
Bipolar Disorder
Date Submitted: November 11th 2010
Name: Fiona Hopkins
Student Number 224349
Word Count: 3714
Contents
Nutrients and Food Review
Introduction
In biopolar affective disorder (BPD), also known as manic-depressive disorder, patients experience alternating periods of depression and mania. Patients experience symptoms to varying degrees, and are diagnosed as Bipolar I, Bipolar II or Cyclothymia,
Symptoms
Depression symptoms – miserable, lethargic, feelings of guilt and unworthiness, worrying, agitation, poor appetite, loss of libido, fatigue and body aches and pains.
Mania – Elevated or irritable mood, excessive energy, insomnia, delusions of power, increased libido and disinhibition. (Kumar & Clark, 2005)
The lifetime prevalence of BPD is 1% across the world, with the mean age onset being 21 (Kumar & Clark, 2005). There is no variation in prevalence in different economic classes, sex or race (Kumar & Clark, 2005), however, epidemiological studies have found less occurrence in fish eating cultures (Noaghiul, S & Hibbely, J, 2003). Although the cause is not fully understood, there is evidence that nutrition can contribute to preventing and treating BPD.
Aetiology
BP is shown to be highly inheritable. (Kumar & Clark, 2005). Although not well understood, theories of the pathological mechanisms involved have evolved with research into how drugs which can treat BPD have been able to do so. The current understanding is that mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation and oxidative stress are causative. Environmental factors interact with genes to promote onset of the disorder. Sodium channels are also affected.
The significance of monoamine/neurotransmitter levels is not dismissed; the monoamine theory of treating depression with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) for example is thought to have underlying causes. With bipolar caution needs to be