What is bipolar disorder? - Helen M. Farrell

翻译人员: Di SUN 校对人员: Jiawei Ni

What is bipolar disorder?

什么是双向情感障碍？ （躁郁症，bipolar disorder）

The word bipolar means two extremes.

“bipolar”这个单词意思是两个极端。

For the many millions experiencing bipolar disorder around the world,

对于世界上数百万躁郁症患者来说，

life is split between two different realities -

生活被分裂成 两个截然不同的部分，

elation and depression.

兴高采烈的愉快期 和郁郁寡欢的抑郁期。

Although there are many variations of bipolar disorder,

躁郁症有多种类型。

let's consider a couple.

我们来看其中两种。

Type 1 has extreme highs alongside the lows,

第一种包含极端的情绪高潮 伴随情绪低谷，

while Type 2 involves briefer, less extreme periods of elation

第二种包含更温和的情绪高潮，

interspersed with long periods of depression.

穿插在长期的抑郁期中。

For someone seesawing between emotional states,

情感起伏很大的人

it can feel impossible to find the balance necessary to lead a healthy life.

会觉得找到健康生活的平衡点 是不可能的。

Type 1's extreme highs are known as manic episodes,

第一种类型中的精神愉快期， 被称为躁狂发作，

and they can make a person range from feeling irritable to invincible.

患者可能感到狂躁易怒， 或是觉得自己无所不能。

But these euphoric episodes exceed ordinary feelings of joy,

但这种精神愉快 超过一般的喜悦感，

causing troubling symptoms like racing thoughts,

会引发其他症状， 比如思绪翻腾，

sleeplessness,

失眠，

rapid speech,

言语急促，

impuslive actions,

做出冲动行为

and risky behaviors.

以及危险行为。

Without treatment, these episodes become more frequent,

若未接受治疗，异常的精神愉快期 会更频繁出现，

intense,

程度加重，

and take longer to subside.

同时需要花更久的时间平息。

The depressed phase of bipolar disorder manifests in many ways -

躁郁症的精神沮丧期 有以下表现形式：

a low mood,

情绪低落，

dwindling interest in hobbies,

兴趣减弱，

changes in appetite,

食欲不正，

feeling worthless or excessively guilty,

感到自己没有价值 或者极端内疚，

sleeping either too much or too little,

睡太多或者太少，

restlessness or slowness,

精力充沛或者行动缓慢，

or persistent thoughts of suicide.

或者常有自杀的想法。

Worldwide, about one to three percent of adults

全世界大约1-3%的成年人

experience the broad range of symptoms that indicate bipolar disorder.

表现出躁郁症的不同症状。

Most of those people are functional, contributing members of society,

其中大多数是对社会有贡献的人，

and their lives, choices, and relationships

他们的生活，选择以及人际关系

aren't defined by the disorder,

并不受躁郁症限制。

but still, for many, the consequences are serious.

即便如此，对于很多人来说， 躁郁症带来了严重的后果。

The illness can undermine educational and professional performance,

躁郁症会影响人们 在学习和工作上的表现，

relationships,

人际关系，

financial security,

财务稳定，

and personal safety.

以及个人安全。

So what causes bipolar disorder?

那么，是什么原因引起了躁郁症？

Researchers think a key player is the brain's intricate wiring.

研究人员认为， 复杂的大脑回路是主因。

Healthy brains maintain strong connections between neurons

健康的大脑中 神经元之间强有力地连接在一起，

thanks to the brain's continuous efforts to prune itself

多亏了大脑不断修剪清除

and remove unused or faulty neural connections.

无用的或错误的神经连接。

This process is important because our neural pathways serve as a map

这一过程之所以很重要 是因为神经通路的作用

for everything we do.

就像是地图一样指引我们。

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging,

通过机能性磁共振成像，

scientists have discovered that the brain's pruning ability is disrupted

科学家发现， 大脑的修剪清理过程，

in people with bipolar disorder.

在躁郁症患者身上受到了干扰。

That means their neurons go haywire

这意味着神经元连接失控，

and create a network that's impossible to navigate.

形成了一个 无法正确导航的网络。

With only confusing signals as a guide,

在混乱的信号指导下，

people with bipolar disorder develop abnormal thoughts and behaviors.

躁郁症患者产生异常的想法和行为。

Also, psychotic symptoms,

同时，精神病症状

like disorganized speech and behavior,

比如言语混乱、行为失控、

delusional thoughts,

妄想、

paranoia,

偏执、

and hallucinations

以及幻觉

can emerge during extreme phases of bipolar disorder.

会在躁郁症的极端阶段出现。

This is attributed to the overabundance of a neurotransmitter called dopamine.

这是由于存在过多的神经递质 多巴胺导致的。

But despite these insights, we can't pin bipolar disorder down to a single cause.

即便如此，我们不能 把躁郁症的成因归结成一个。

In reality, it's a complex problem.

实际上，这是个很复杂的问题。

For example, the brain's amygdala is involved in thinking,

比方说，大脑的杏仁核与思考，

long-term memory,

长期记忆

and emotional processing.

和情绪处理有关。

In this brain region, factors as varied as genetics and social trauma

在大脑的这块区域， 遗传因素和社会创伤等因素

may create abnormalities and trigger the symptoms of bipolar disorder.

可能形成异常并引发躁郁症。

The condition tends to run in families,

这种情况往往在家族中发生，

so we do know that genetics have a lot to do with it.

我们知道这与遗传基因有很大关系。

But that doesn't mean there's a single bipolar gene.

但是这并不意味着 有一个躁郁症的基因存在。

In fact, the likelihood of developing bipolar disorder

实际上，躁郁症的形成

is driven by the interactions between many genes

是许多基因共同作用的结果，

in a complicated recipe we're still trying to understand.

我们仍然在试图找到答案。

The causes are complex,

由于躁郁症成因复杂，

and consequently, diagnosing and living with bipolar disorder is a challenge.

要症断出躁郁症 并与之共处是很有挑战的。

Despite this, the disorder is controllable.

尽管如此，躁郁症是能够被控制的。

Certain medications like lithium can help manage risky thoughts and behaviors

一些药物，比如锂盐 能够控制危险的想法和行为

by stabilizing moods.

以平稳情绪。

These mood stabilizing medications work by decreasing abnormal activity in the brain,

这些稳定情绪的药物 通过减少大脑中异常活动

thereby strengthening the viable neural connections.

来加强有效的神经连接。

Other frequently used medications include antipsychotics,

其他常用的药物 包括抗精神病药

which alter the effects of dopamine,

通过改变多巴胺的作用

and electroconvulsive therapy,

以及采用电休克疗法

which works like a carefully controlled seizure in the brain,

来人为控制大脑的癫痫，

is sometimes used as an emergency treatment.

这种疗法有时也被称为紧急治疗。

Some bipolar patients reject treatment

一些躁郁症患者拒绝治疗，

because they're afraid it will dim their emotions

因为他们担心治疗会让他们情绪低落

and destroy their creativity.

并扼杀创造力。

But modern psychiatry is actively trying to avoid that.

但是现代精神治疗法 正在努力避免这种情况。

Today, doctors work with patients on a case-by-case basis

如今，医生会根据每个病人的情况

to administer a combination of treatments and therapies

制定出混合的治疗方法，

that allows them to live to their fullest possible potential.

让病人的生命发挥充分的潜力。

And beyond treatment, people with bipolar disorder can benefit

除了治疗以外，躁郁症患者可以从

from even simpler changes.

很简单的改变中受益。

Those include regular exercise,

这包括定期运动，

good sleep habits,

形成良好的睡眠习惯，

and sobriety from drugs and alcohol,

节制毒品以及酒精饮料，

not to mention the acceptance and empathy of family and friends.

当然还包括 来自家人和朋友的接纳和认同。

Remember, bipolar disorder is a medical condition,

请注意，躁郁症是一种身体状况，

not a person's fault,

这不是患者个人的错，

or their whole identity,

也不是他整个人身份的问题。

and it's something that can be controlled

这是一个能被控制的症状，

through a combination of medical treatments doing their work internally,

可以通过药物治疗 在脑内发挥功效，

friends and family fostering acceptance and understanding on the outside,

加上外部来自家人和朋友的 接纳和理解，

and people with bipolar disorder empowering themselves

同时患者自身努力

to find balance in their lives.

去寻找生活的平衡。