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What Causes Short Life Span In People Suffering From Bipolar Mood Disorder?
Question: My sister is 53 and has been diagnosed as bipolar. She made several attempts on her life about 7 years ago but none since then. Nowadays her medication keeps her fairly stable and she has changed her life, having divorced an alcoholic husband. She still gets depressed and feels suicidal thoughts and the desire to self-harm, but she says she can control them with her medication. I'm worried that she will return to self-harming and suicide attempts. Am I being foolish or does it depend on her medicine? Can she expect a reasonable life span of 80 years.
Doctor XXXXXXX
Thank you for replying, your advice is very helpful and appreciated.
If my sister contiunes to monitor her illness and follow the medical advice given, will she have a normal lifespan, or in general terms, is the lifespan reduced for sufferers of bipolar disorders?
Doctor XXXXXXX
Thank you for replying, your advice is very helpful and appreciated.
If my sister contiunes to monitor her illness and follow the medical advice given, will she have a normal lifespan, or in general terms, is the lifespan reduced for sufferers of bipolar disorders?
Brief Answer:
She will most probably have a normal life span
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for the add-on question. Some patients of bipolar mood disorder have a shorted life span due to following reasons:
1) Suicidal attempt.
2) Mortality due to medical reasons like diabetes or hypertension which are more common among psychiatric patients due to life style factors and medications.
If the first cause can be prevented and the next cause can be averted by maintaining good lifestyle and getting frequently evaluated for medical illness and seeking proper treatment, then she can live a normal life span.
Its not necessary that she will have a reduced life span for certain.
Hope this helps,
Let me know if you need any further clarifications.
Kind regards,
Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD
She will most probably have a normal life span
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for the add-on question. Some patients of bipolar mood disorder have a shorted life span due to following reasons:
1) Suicidal attempt.
2) Mortality due to medical reasons like diabetes or hypertension which are more common among psychiatric patients due to life style factors and medications.
If the first cause can be prevented and the next cause can be averted by maintaining good lifestyle and getting frequently evaluated for medical illness and seeking proper treatment, then she can live a normal life span.
Its not necessary that she will have a reduced life span for certain.
Hope this helps,
Let me know if you need any further clarifications.
Kind regards,
Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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