do they develop over time?

[stable not balanced]

...hallucinations, irritability.

if you currently do not have these symptoms, could they possibly pop up over time?

[grousemouse]

umm, that question seems kind of vague. i can say that my depression, anxiety and ocd have certainly increased over time. it continues to be a downhill slide.

for anyone it would depend on a ton of things.

i would think that if a person is MI and remains untreated they will get worse because their coping mechanisms will let them down or get them into trouble more and more.

grouse.

[AirMarshall]

Since you don't specifically state, I presume that you mean in the context of having Bipolar.

The model of BP disorder is that, untreated, it is a progressive disease that increases in severity and the period between episodes decreases. 

So yes, the likelyhood of having new symptoms or worsening symptems increases with time, and is much greater if you go without adequate treatment.

Hallucinations only occur in about 20% of BP'ers, and are most common for BP I's who are currently experiencing a manic episode.

So, it is possible to be accurately dx with Bipolar, and experience some hallucinations. I have seen several members of this board who had some hallucinations develop after they were already doing pretty well on BP meds.  The Pdocs gave them some anti-psychotics which eliminated the hallucinations. Don't panic and think that you have necessarily slipped and become schizo.

Dr. Phelps has some excellent diagrams and descriptions of how BP progresses when untreated and then is halted when treated.

http://www.psycheducation.org

How are you doing? Have you talked with your Pdoc?

A.M.

[Loon-A-TiK]

Since you are not specific, I'm going to follow AM's lead and assume you are asking if BP symptoms in general and psychosis in particular either develop or worsen as the disorder progresses over time.

In my experience, very much so, yes.

Both of my parents, along with my sister and I are BP1 with psychotic symptoms. That makes a very interesting and loony bunch! My dad committed suicide almost 2 years ago now, my sister was an inpatient for 8 months, and my mom is unipolar MANIC with psychosis.

I started out being a rather moody 7-yr-old who alternately loved and hated the world and would alternately play outside or sit in her room and sob. Into my teens, I developed a hatred of the world, and anger issues, along with the BP mood swings. I tried to kill myself a few times, I mean serious attempts, during that period. My parents felt this was totally "normal" so I didn't get treatment. They took meds but wanted me to be 18 first to make sure it was the correct DX and my own decision. This choice was good and bad.

I developed GAD+PTSD in my teens, and aural hallucinations that ebbed and flowed with the BP moods.

Into college I became seriously depressed, so badly that I couldn't go to class or get out of bed. I did my homework and ended up on Dean's List. Don't ask me how. I just have a great memory. My profs were all very sympathetic and allowed me all kinds of accomidations. But depression persisted. It was interspersed with brief and unexpected manic spikes. I mean mania, not hypomania. Hypomania does not exist in my world and never has. It is all or nothing over here.

After college I went into a full mania. Thus beginning the trend Upwards, and higher and higher, until I did very bad things I regret that were horrible. I cheated on my loving husband and left him in another state while I was sure he was the problem, cycled through dozens of jobs and sex partners, and attempted suicide again.

The psychotic periods increased. I started seeing things along with hearing things. The things I hear are from outside of me, as well as in my head. Usually it is a ru nning commentary on what I am doing and how I could do it better. Actually, I even find myself liking the Voices, because they help me iwth dire problems.

I've owndered if I developed the psychosis to help me deal with the  moods actually. LIke children develop Dissociative Disorders to deal with their trauma and the "personalities" continue into adulthood. I've wondered if my psychosis is a dissociative disorder sometimes....

....loon

[stable not balanced]

oops, sorry for being so vague!  i have actually only had one manic episode and do experience depression the most.  i am bp1 and taking 900 lit, 20 lexapro.

i do know that anxiety developed.  previously, had only panic attacks here and there, but it became a constant after i was diagnosed.

(i do recall a few incidents where i was hallucinating when i first  became manic, but nothing scary.  a star was moving in a trianglur figuration, crystals were around my eyes)

i was irritable the other day, but don't know if that is going to continue on a regular basis.  (usually i am pretty laid back)

i guess i was just worried that it would become more than it is once stable on medications.  The paranoia thing really scares me.

i hear so many stories about what everyone is going through and have been thankful that my mania has not been disturbing.  it was actually quite eye opening and euphoric.  i don't want to take anything for granted and i don't want to worry unnecessarily.

through your experiences, i see how strong you have to be to deal with this mental illness.

thank you already for your responses, hoping to hear more.

(i see my pdoc in 2 weeks.  i have been having problems with depression and no motivation lately.)

have a great evening!

Kathryn

[Batou]

...hallucinations, irritability.

if you currently do not have these symptoms, could they possibly pop up over time?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

short answer: Yes. Happens even when I am on my meds.

And I have psychotic depression episodes too.

But don't lose hope or assume that what happens to others may happen to you too. Stay on your meds, be very honest with your pdoc, and be watchful.

Erika

[Dweii]

I know that I started out as a BPII with very mild hypomanias and then "advanced" to psychotic manias.

That's why it's so important to treat BP before it gets out of hand.

[Min]

ahh i love my hallucinations and delusions!!!

but they're mostly due to seizures I am told. :/

[groovyone]

No psychosis has developed throughout my bipolar career.  I'm probably BPII on the spectrum but I also became an ultradian cycler at my worst point prior to becoming stable so that doesn't necessarily fit the BPII model per se. 

Perhaps some irritability has increased?

Karen

[whatsgoingon]

I'd vote for definately.

In just 3 short months, I went from mild BP II to raging psychotic BP whatever. (I'd guess I'm BP I but am currently waiting to see somebody who'll listen to all my symptoms before diagnosis.)

I haven't come close to the correct treatment yet, half of me thinks if we'd stopped it when it was BP II the psychotic manias wouldn't have developed. But I also have this theory that I'm genetically determined to have the form of BP I have, and correct treatment would have only delayed it advancing to this stage. That theory is probably utter bollocks, but it's the only bit of comfort I get when I consider how fast my illness has advanced over the last few months and what may happen in the future.

[Amethyst]

...hallucinations, irritability.

if you currently do not have these symptoms, could they possibly pop up over time?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes I think that they could. I know I wasn't psychotic all of my life. They had to pop up at some point. Since my memory sucks and my childhood is vague I couldn't tell you when they popped up, but I'm guessing it was around or after I developed BP.

Hallucinations only occur in about 20% of BP'ers, and are most common for BP I's who are currently experiencing a manic episode.

That seems to be the case for me.

Anyway as others have said, BP is progressive, so that would most likely mean yes.

Are you asking because this is something you are now experiencing?

Ameth