Episode
The Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
2:19:08
Published: Mon Jul 25 2022
Description
In this episode, I explain the biology, symptoms, causes and types of bipolar disorder (sometimes called bipolar depression). I discuss neuroplasticity and how the brain normally regulates mood, energy, and perceptions; then, I contrast that with the biology of bipolar disorder, which is characterized by extremes of energy and mood, e.g., mania and depression. I outline the mechanisms through which bipolar disorder manifests in the brain, including deficits of interoception and reduced connections between the parietal and limbic systems. I also outline how treatment options (such as lithium) work in part through homeostatic plasticity.’ I discuss not only lithium but also the treatment of bipolar with ketamine, different talk therapies, electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and nutraceuticals, including Omega-3 and Inositol supplementation. This episode should interest anyone who has or knows someone with bipolar disorder and, more broadly, those interested in how the brain works to create a balance between thoughts, energy levels, focus, and mood. For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1 (Athletic Greens): https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman Thesis: https://takethesis.com/huberman Supplements from Momentous https://www.livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Bipolar Disorder (00:03:42) Tool: Appetite Suppression & GLP-1, Parallel Pathways, Yerba Mate (00:9:19) Sponsors: AG1, LMNT, Thesis, Momentous (00:14:24) Prevalence & Severity of Bipolar Disorder (00:16:30) Bipolar Disorder I, Diagnostic Criteria of Mania (00:28:58) Bipolar Disorder II, Individual Variability (00:33:07) Bipolar I vs. Bipolar II: Manic, Depressive & Symptom-Free States (00:38:20) Consequences of Bipolar Disorder, Heritability (00:46:53) Bipolar Disorder vs. Borderline Personality Disorder (00:51:51) Mania & Depression, Negative Impacts (00:53:06) History of Lithium Treatment (01:02:44) Lithium Treatment & Side-Effects (01:05:05) Effects of Lithium: BDNF, Anti-inflammatory & Neuroprotection (01:10:10) Neural Circuits of Bipolar Disorder, Interoception, Hyper- vs. Hypoactivity (01:17:11) Neural States & Mania, Parietal Lobe & Limbic System (01:22:58) Homeostatic Plasticity, Synaptic Scaling, Lithium & Ketamine (01:36:00) Talk Therapies: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family-Focused Therapy, Interpersonal & Social Rhythm Therapy (01:43:18) Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) (01:48:01) Psylocibin, Cannabis (01:51:50) Lifestyle Support, Supplements: Inositol & Omega-3 Fatty Acids (02:03:31) Omega-3s, Membrane Fluidity & Neuroplasticity (02:06:44) Mania, Creativity & Occupations (02:15:33) Bipolar Disorder: Diagnosis, Neural Circuits & Treatment (02:17:45) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous Supplements, Instagram, Twitter, Neural Network Newsletter Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac Disclaimer
Chapters
Yerba mate releases lower amounts of GLP-1, a peptide that causes a feeling of fullness, and appropriate doses of synthetic forms of GLP-1 would only cause mild, not major, gut distension, which is uncomfortable.
00:00 - 08:32 (08:32)
Summary
Yerba mate releases lower amounts of GLP-1, a peptide that causes a feeling of fullness, and appropriate doses of synthetic forms of GLP-1 would only cause mild, not major, gut distension, which is uncomfortable.
EpisodeThe Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
PodcastHuberman Lab
InsideTracker provides specific lifestyle, nutrition, and supplementation recommendations to optimize immediate and long-term health based on personalized health data.
08:32 - 13:54 (05:22)
Summary
InsideTracker provides specific lifestyle, nutrition, and supplementation recommendations to optimize immediate and long-term health based on personalized health data. The platform emphasizes single ingredient supplements in dosages that allow for an effective and cost-efficient supplementation protocol.
EpisodeThe Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
PodcastHuberman Lab
The early onset of a bipolar episode indicates a higher likelihood of it being a stable feature in a person's psychology; diagnosis of manic bipolar disorder is essential as it can be distinguished from other reasons such as traumatic brain injury and illicit drugs.
13:54 - 22:36 (08:41)
Summary
The early onset of a bipolar episode indicates a higher likelihood of it being a stable feature in a person's psychology; diagnosis of manic bipolar disorder is essential as it can be distinguished from other reasons such as traumatic brain injury and illicit drugs.
EpisodeThe Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
PodcastHuberman Lab
Bipolar disorder encompasses a range of symptoms and experiences, from extended manic episodes to combinations of manic and depressive episodes.
22:36 - 29:56 (07:19)
Summary
Bipolar disorder encompasses a range of symptoms and experiences, from extended manic episodes to combinations of manic and depressive episodes. Diagnosis is not a straightforward process and is determined through conversations with the individual.
EpisodeThe Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
PodcastHuberman Lab
People with bipolar disorder can often be symptom-free, making it hard to identify if they're in a manic or depressive state.
29:56 - 38:44 (08:48)
Summary
People with bipolar disorder can often be symptom-free, making it hard to identify if they're in a manic or depressive state. This makes it important for those who have bipolar depression or suspect they might have it or know someone who does, to know the criteria and recognize the symptoms.
EpisodeThe Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
PodcastHuberman Lab
Explaining the key differences between borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder and the need to watch out for bipolar disorder if a close family member has it.
38:44 - 47:04 (08:20)
Summary
Explaining the key differences between borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder and the need to watch out for bipolar disorder if a close family member has it.
EpisodeThe Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
PodcastHuberman Lab
This podcast episode explains the challenges of having relationships with individuals who have Borderline Personality Disorder, especially due to their good/bad object shifts.
47:05 - 54:25 (07:19)
Summary
This podcast episode explains the challenges of having relationships with individuals who have Borderline Personality Disorder, especially due to their good/bad object shifts. However, it is important to remember that this is a bi-directional issue, which means the sufferer is likely going through a lot too.
EpisodeThe Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
PodcastHuberman Lab
A brief history of the use of lithium in mental health treatment, starting with the discovery of its calming effects in guinea pigs injected with toxic urea and leading to its use in human patients as a medication.
54:25 - 1:01:33 (07:08)
Summary
A brief history of the use of lithium in mental health treatment, starting with the discovery of its calming effects in guinea pigs injected with toxic urea and leading to its use in human patients as a medication.
EpisodeThe Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
PodcastHuberman Lab
Lithium has been successful in treating bipolar disorder but certain factors prevented it from reaching all patients in need.
1:01:34 - 1:12:30 (10:56)
Summary
Lithium has been successful in treating bipolar disorder but certain factors prevented it from reaching all patients in need. People with bipolar disorder experience a removal of certain neural connections over time, leading to a difficulty in registering their own emotional and somatic states.
EpisodeThe Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
PodcastHuberman Lab
A study shows that people with high risk of or full-blown bipolar disorder have deficits in connectivity between parietal brain regions and the limbic system.
1:12:30 - 1:24:36 (12:06)
Summary
A study shows that people with high risk of or full-blown bipolar disorder have deficits in connectivity between parietal brain regions and the limbic system. Lithium's positive effects on bipolar depression treatment may be due to its prevention of the loss of neural circuits for interoception and control over the limbic system.
EpisodeThe Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
PodcastHuberman Lab
This episode discusses the critical time-sensitive nature of bipolar disorder and the urgency of getting effective treatments early in order to prevent some of the longer lasting neural circuit changes.
1:24:36 - 1:37:15 (12:39)
Summary
This episode discusses the critical time-sensitive nature of bipolar disorder and the urgency of getting effective treatments early in order to prevent some of the longer lasting neural circuit changes. Ketamine has shown to be a very effective treatment for major depression and the major depressive episodes of people that suffer from bipolar depression.
EpisodeThe Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
PodcastHuberman Lab
Cognitive behavioral therapy, family-focused therapy, and interpersonal and social rhythm therapies are talk therapies implemented to predict bipolar episodes and reduce the harm caused by them in addition to drug treatments.
1:37:15 - 1:45:26 (08:10)
Summary
Cognitive behavioral therapy, family-focused therapy, and interpersonal and social rhythm therapies are talk therapies implemented to predict bipolar episodes and reduce the harm caused by them in addition to drug treatments.
EpisodeThe Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
PodcastHuberman Lab
Treatment for bipolar disorder should not rely solely on talk therapy or natural approaches due to the high risk of suicide.
1:45:26 - 1:58:09 (12:43)
Summary
Treatment for bipolar disorder should not rely solely on talk therapy or natural approaches due to the high risk of suicide. While there is little data supporting the use of cannabis or psilocybin for bipolar disorder treatment, getting proper sleep, exercise, nutrition, socializing, and regular sunlight can support the nervous system and the psyche.
EpisodeThe Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
PodcastHuberman Lab
Omega-3 fatty acids may support neural circuitry and neuroplasticity, and may have the ability to make changes in neurons similar to those seen with lithium treatment, but despite this, talk therapy and lifestyle interventions are unlikely to treat bipolar disorder alone.
1:58:09 - 2:06:58 (08:48)
Summary
Omega-3 fatty acids may support neural circuitry and neuroplasticity, and may have the ability to make changes in neurons similar to those seen with lithium treatment, but despite this, talk therapy and lifestyle interventions are unlikely to treat bipolar disorder alone. Furthermore, studies have shown the potential for omega-3 fatty acid supplementation to worsen symptoms of mania in bipolar disorder.
EpisodeThe Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
PodcastHuberman Lab
This podcast delves into the manic and depressive components of bipolar disorder, different forms of bipolar disorder and the major treatments for it, including lithium.
2:06:58 - 2:17:12 (10:13)
Summary
This podcast delves into the manic and depressive components of bipolar disorder, different forms of bipolar disorder and the major treatments for it, including lithium. The podcast also explores the correlation between creativity and bipolar disorder, citing data that certain creative professions may be associated with higher incidence of bipolar depression.
EpisodeThe Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
PodcastHuberman Lab
The Huberman Lab Podcast covers science and science-related tools, including the topic of supplements.
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Summary
The Huberman Lab Podcast covers science and science-related tools, including the topic of supplements. While not necessary for everyone, supplements may provide benefits for those seeking enhanced sleep, focus, hormone support, as well as improved mental and physical health and performance.