Research indicates that bipolar mood swings are predictable

By Staff Writer

A new study reveals that the future mood swings of people with bipolar disorder (BD) can be predicted.

The report, which appears in the journal Psychological Assessment, is based on a month-long examination of 50 people who had BD. Researchers from the Universities of Manchester and Lancaster discovered that future mood swings among these people can be determined by their current thoughts and behavior.

Participants who had an extreme view about their emotions were more likely to have more mood swings a month later. For example, individuals who felt like they needed to remain active all the time in order to improve their moods were more likely to experience problems.

On the other hand, people with BP who viewed their moods as normal reactions to stress had less problems after a month. These individuals were less likely to overreact, or become manic, in an attempt to improve their condition.

Researchers said that these findings indicate that talking therapies can help patients who suffer from the mental disorder. One treatment is called Think Effectively About Mood Swings (TEAMS), which is being developed at the University of Manchester. This method encourages individuals to focus on current problems and set realistic life goals, which can help them feel accomplished about tasks that they may have previously overlooked.

Children who suffer from thought problems may benefit from summer camps for kids, which aim to help students cope with their emotions.