14 DAY TRIAL // According to researchers at the Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), in Germany, it would appear that sleep disorders or disturbances, and a fluctuating mood, may be some of the earliest signs heralding the development of bipolar disorder (BPD), of both Type I and Type II.
The team found that social isolation, weight gain, excessive suspiciousness, irritability, and impatience could also be considered early symptoms of BPD. Details of the investigation, which was led by RUB expert Dr. Eike Zeschel, appear in the latest issue of the medical Journal of Affective Disorders.
The study found that people who went on to develop any of the two types of BPD experienced sudden mood changes and perturbed daily sleep scheduled several weeks before they suffered their first manic or depressive episode. The work was carried out on a total of 42 patients, PsychCentral reports.
The team argues that the results of this investigation bring into focus “the necessity to inquire about the patients’ entire psychopathological symptom ‘package’ and not only about specific affective symptoms when suspecting that they may be developing bipolar disorder.”