Older People Dealing with Bipolar Disease

Many people begin dealing with bipolar disease before the age of fifty. However, there is some evidence that approximately ten percent of patients with bipolar disease are aware of their infirmity after age fifty.

Many times, bipolar disease is labeled as manic depressive. It may be that because of this they are thought of with a personality disorder and are not labeled as having bipolar disease. Some of these persons may have been substance abusers and their disease may have been identified as such rather than as bipolar.

There are certain characteristics that are part of bipolar disease. The person may have heightened moods and, on the other hand, may be
very irritable. Diminished sleep may be involved. The person may have grandiose characteristics, be very suspicious, or have increased activities. There may be over-spending by the bipolar person.

Some older persons may have been treated with antidepressant medication, which may lead to a different diagnosis of the disease.

The older person is usually treated with lower doses and levels of lithium. Anticonvulsants (such as Depakote) are sometimes used
with the older person rather than lithium. Much of the treatment is still in the experimental stage and more information is needed. Even though there have been improvements, older patients with bipolar are still in a high risk group for excessive illness. Many have an early death.

More information is needed and some universities undergoing medical studies on bipolar disease in older patients are asking family members
to feed information to them as to treatment and results so as to further medical improvements in the treatment of bipolar disease.