中英文稿

什么是雙向情感障礙？ （躁郁癥，bipolar disorder）?“bipolar”這個單詞意思是兩個極端。?對于世界上數(shù)百萬躁郁癥患者來說，?生活被分裂成 兩個截然不同的部分，?興高采烈的愉快期 和郁郁寡歡的抑郁期。?躁郁癥有多種類型。?我們來看其中兩種。?第一種包含極端的情緒高潮 伴隨情緒低谷，?第二種包含更溫和的情緒高潮，?穿插在長期的抑郁期中。?情感起伏很大的人?會覺得找到健康生活的平衡點(diǎn) 是不可能的。?第一種類型中的精神愉快期， 被稱為躁狂發(fā)作，?患者可能感到狂躁易怒， 或是覺得自己無所不能。?但這種精神愉快 超過一般的喜悅感，?會引發(fā)其他癥狀， 比如思緒翻騰，?失眠，?言語急促，?做出沖動行為?以及危險行為。?若未接受治療，異常的精神愉快期 會更頻繁出現(xiàn)，?程度加重，?同時需要花更久的時間平息。?躁郁癥的精神沮喪期 有以下表現(xiàn)形式：?情緒低落，?興趣減弱，?食欲不正，?感到自己沒有價值 或者極端內(nèi)疚，?睡太多或者太少，?精力充沛或者行動緩慢，?或者常有自殺的想法。?全世界大約1-3%的成年人?表現(xiàn)出躁郁癥的不同癥狀。?其中大多數(shù)是對社會有貢獻(xiàn)的人，?他們的生活，選擇以及人際關(guān)系?并不受躁郁癥限制。?即便如此，對于很多人來說， 躁郁癥帶來了嚴(yán)重的后果。?躁郁癥會影響人們 在學(xué)習(xí)和工作上的表現(xiàn)，?人際關(guān)系，?財務(wù)穩(wěn)定，?以及個人安全。?

那么，是什么原因引起了躁郁癥？?研究人員認(rèn)為， 復(fù)雜的大腦回路是主因。?健康的大腦中 神經(jīng)元之間強(qiáng)有力地連接在一起，?多虧了大腦不斷修剪清除?無用的或錯誤的神經(jīng)連接。?這一過程之所以很重要 是因為神經(jīng)通路的作用?就像是地圖一樣指引我們。?通過機(jī)能性磁共振成像，?科學(xué)家發(fā)現(xiàn)， 大腦的修剪清理過程，?在躁郁癥患者身上受到了干擾。?這意味著神經(jīng)元連接失控，?形成了一個 無法正確導(dǎo)航的網(wǎng)絡(luò)。?在混亂的信號指導(dǎo)下，?躁郁癥患者產(chǎn)生異常的想法和行為。?同時，精神病癥狀?比如言語混亂、行為失控、?妄想、?偏執(zhí)、?以及幻覺?會在躁郁癥的極端階段出現(xiàn)。?這是由于存在過多的神經(jīng)遞質(zhì) 多巴胺導(dǎo)致的。?即便如此，我們不能 把躁郁癥的成因歸結(jié)成一個。?實(shí)際上，這是個很復(fù)雜的問題。?比方說，大腦的杏仁核與思考，?長期記憶?和情緒處理有關(guān)。?在大腦的這塊區(qū)域， 遺傳因素和社會創(chuàng)傷等因素?可能形成異常并引發(fā)躁郁癥。?這種情況往往在家族中發(fā)生，?我們知道這與遺傳基因有很大關(guān)系。?但是這并不意味著 有一個躁郁癥的基因存在。?實(shí)際上，躁郁癥的形成?是許多基因共同作用的結(jié)果，?我們?nèi)匀辉谠噲D找到答案。?由于躁郁癥成因復(fù)雜，?要癥斷出躁郁癥 并與之共處是很有挑戰(zhàn)的。?盡管如此，躁郁癥是能夠被控制的。?一些藥物，比如鋰鹽 能夠控制危險的想法和行為?以平穩(wěn)情緒。?這些穩(wěn)定情緒的藥物 通過減少大腦中異?；顒?來加強(qiáng)有效的神經(jīng)連接。?其他常用的藥物 包括抗精神病藥?通過改變多巴胺的作用?以及采用電休克療法?來人為控制大腦的癲癇，?這種療法有時也被稱為緊急治療。?一些躁郁癥患者拒絕治療，?因為他們擔(dān)心治療會讓他們情緒低落?并扼殺創(chuàng)造力。?但是現(xiàn)代精神治療法 正在努力避免這種情況。?如今，醫(yī)生會根據(jù)每個病人的情況?制定出混合的治療方法，?讓病人的生命發(fā)揮充分的潛力。?除了治療以外，躁郁癥患者可以從?很簡單的改變中受益。?這包括定期運(yùn)動，?形成良好的睡眠習(xí)慣，?節(jié)制毒品以及酒精飲料，?當(dāng)然還包括 來自家人和朋友的接納和認(rèn)同。?請注意，躁郁癥是一種身體狀況，?這不是患者個人的錯，?也不是他整個人身份的問題。?這是一個能被控制的癥狀，?可以通過藥物治療 在腦內(nèi)發(fā)揮功效，?加上外部來自家人和朋友的 接納和理解，?同時患者自身努力?去尋找生活的平衡。

What is bipolar disorder?

The word bipolar means two extremes.?For the many millions experiencing bipolar disorder around the world,?life is split between two different realities -?elation and depression.?Although there are many variations of bipolar disorder,?let's consider a couple.?Type 1 has extreme highs alongside the lows,?while Type 2 involves briefer, less extreme periods of elation?interspersed with long periods of depression.?For someone seesawing between emotional states,?it can feel impossible to find the balance necessary to lead a healthy life.

Type 1's extreme highs are known as manic episodes,?and they can make a person range from feeling irritable to invincible.?But these euphoric episodes exceed ordinary feelings of joy,?causing troubling symptoms like racing thoughts,?sleeplessness,?rapid speech,?impuslive actions,?and risky behaviors.?Without treatment, these episodes become more frequent,?intense,?and take longer to subside.

The depressed phase of bipolar disorder manifests in many ways -?a low mood,?dwindling interest in hobbies,?changes in appetite,?feeling worthless or excessively guilty,?sleeping either too much or too little,?restlessness or slowness,?or persistent thoughts of suicide.

Worldwide, about one to three percent of adults?experience the broad range of symptoms that indicate bipolar disorder.?Most of those people are functional, contributing members of society,?and their lives, choices, and relationships?aren't defined by the disorder,?but still, for many, the consequences are serious.?The illness can undermine educational and professional performance,?relationships,?financial security,?and personal safety.

So what causes bipolar disorder??Researchers think a key player is the brain's intricate wiring.?Healthy brains maintain strong connections between neurons?thanks to the brain's continuous efforts to prune itself?and remove unused or faulty neural connections.?This process is important because our neural pathways serve as a map?for everything we do.?Using functional magnetic resonance imaging,?scientists have discovered that the brain's pruning ability is disrupted?in people with bipolar disorder.?That means their neurons go haywire?and create a network that's impossible to navigate.?With only confusing signals as a guide,?people with bipolar disorder develop abnormal thoughts and behaviors.

Also, psychotic symptoms,?like disorganized speech and behavior,?delusional thoughts,?paranoia,?and hallucinations?can emerge during extreme phases of bipolar disorder.?This is attributed to the overabundance of a neurotransmitter called dopamine.

But despite these insights, we can't pin bipolar disorder down to a single cause.?In reality, it's a complex problem.?For example, the brain's amygdala is involved in thinking,?long-term memory,?and emotional processing.?In this brain region, factors as varied as genetics and social trauma?may create abnormalities and trigger the symptoms of bipolar disorder.

The condition tends to run in families,?so we do know that genetics have a lot to do with it.?But that doesn't mean there's a single bipolar gene.?In fact, the likelihood of developing bipolar disorder?is driven by the interactions between many genes?in a complicated recipe we're still trying to understand.

The causes are complex,?and consequently, diagnosing and living with bipolar disorder is a challenge.?Despite this, the disorder is controllable.?Certain medications like lithium can help manage risky thoughts and behaviors?by stabilizing moods.

These mood stabilizing medications work by decreasing abnormal activity in the brain,?thereby strengthening the viable neural connections.?Other frequently used medications include antipsychotics,?which alter the effects of dopamine,?and electroconvulsive therapy,?which works like a carefully controlled seizure in the brain,?is sometimes used as an emergency treatment.

Some bipolar patients reject treatment?because they're afraid it will dim their emotions?and destroy their creativity.?But modern psychiatry is actively trying to avoid that.?Today, doctors work with patients on a case-by-case basis?to administer a combination of treatments and therapies?that allows them to live to their fullest possible potential.

And beyond treatment, people with bipolar disorder can benefit?from even simpler changes.?Those include regular exercise,?good sleep habits,?and sobriety from drugs and alcohol,?not to mention the acceptance and empathy of family and friends.

Remember, bipolar disorder is a medical condition,?not a person's fault,?or their whole identity,?and it's something that can be controlled?through a combination of medical treatments doing their work internally,?friends and family fostering acceptance and understanding on the outside,?and people with bipolar disorder empowering themselves?to find balance in their lives.