Bipolar affective disease is a recurring illness that means if left untreated it can continue indefinitely. It is very important that a patient who suffers from bipolar affective disorder is treated for the disease not only when it is diagnosed but also through the course of their lives. Without this continued treatment it will resurface and bring with it the many problems associated with it. A patient with bipolar affective disorder suffers from exaggerated mood swings and can alternate between very high (referred to as mania) and very low (referred to as depression) moods. These swings can last days or they can last weeks but it is an ongoing cycle that will only stop with ongoing treatment.

Bipolar affective disorder can be effectively treated through a combination of mood stabilizer drugs and psychotherapy. It is important that the patient sees a psychiatrist in preference to a physician because while any doctor can prescribe the required medication only a psychiatrist can really help.

It is not possible to diagnose bipolar affective disorder physiologically, i.e. through a blood test or a scan or x-ray and the only real way to tell is through psychoevaluation and a judgment on any symptoms that have presented themselves. There are some physical symptoms but these can be attributed to a number of other diseases.

Bipolar affective disorder has a detrimental effect not only on the patient's life but also on the people around them. They will need the love and care of those closest to them in order to help them through both the good and the bad days and to ensure they take their medication on time every time.

1 percent of the American population suffer from bipolar affective disorder. That is roughly 2 million American adults. Yet it is still often misdiagnosed or simply not treated as a disease. It has to be taken very seriously by everyone concerned if the patient is to have a reasonable chance of recovery.