Disorders Library
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Bipolar Disorder

Circadian rhythm disruption, dopamine dysregulation, white matter abnormalities, altered limbic-prefrontal connectivity.

Limbic-prefrontal circuits

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Bipolar disorder alternates between manic/hypomanic and depressive episodes with circadian rhythm disruption as a core feature. Dopamine dysregulation, white matter abnormalities, and altered limbic-prefrontal connectivity underlie mood instability. Lithium remains the gold-standard mood stabilizer with neuroprotective properties. The suprachiasmatic nucleus and clock gene variants link bipolar disorder to chronobiology.

Symptoms

Manic episodesDepressive episodesMood swingsSleep disruptionImpulsivityPsychosis

Neurology

Circadian rhythm disruption, dopamine dysregulation, white matter abnormalities, altered limbic-prefrontal connectivity.

Treatments

LithiumMood stabilizersAntipsychoticsPsychoeducationCBT

Gallery

Bipolar neuroimaging

Bipolar neuroimaging

Circadian circuits

Circadian circuits

Hippocampus

Hippocampus

Videos

Circadian Rhythm & Mood

Huberman Lab

Watch

2-Minute Neuroscience: Depression

Neuroscientifically Challenged

Watch