Quote:
Originally Posted by grizmom
Actually, a lot of research has shown that bipolar gets progressively worse over time, with increased episodes, more risk of mixed episodes, it becomes increasingly treatment-resistant, and there are less/shorter stable periods in between episodes. People with bipolar also lose gray matter faster than people without mood disorders. This is especially true with untreated or under-treated patients, but can also happen to people who are med compliant. Just some things my doctors have told me.
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This is mostly my understanding (through reading and what p-doc said) too, grizmom. The gray matter bit doesn't ring a bell, but I have heard that med compliance does help stop or at least slow the potential progression, so I'm holding on to those.
From personal experience (YMMV), the progression for untreated has been true. Also, mismedication (ADs alone for a misdiagnosis) seems to have sped things up, which I've read they think can happen too. Been on the planet long enough to have a pretty long view to look back on.
Hehe, greylove ("My age almost seems to be an advantage to me now. Maybe my meds will hold out as long as I do.
"), me too.
This issue is probably like so many others. Research can indicate many things, but there are so many factors (even besides the BP) that many parts may be hard to say definitively. Just as we experience BP differently, we likely have so many variables that it's the perfect example of YMMV. Just because something *may* happen, doesn't necessarily mean it will for a given individual (like med side effects). That's probably a good thing to remember in all this, ya?
