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What to know about bipolar and OCDMedically reviewed by Lori Lawrenz, PsyD — By Zia Sherrell, MPH on June 27, 2022Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that causes extreme mood swings and changes in a person’s behavior. In contrast, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that causes repetitive behaviors and intrusive thoughts.
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An individual may live with both conditions. Experts estimate that around 21% of people with bipolar disorder also experience symptoms of OCD. This article discusses the link between bipolar and OCD, their treatment, and outlook.
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What is bipolar
Share on PinterestGetty ImagesBipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes people to experience extreme mood shifts that can affect their daily lives. These alternating mood episodes can range from feeling very happy and energized to utterly sad and hopeless. Bipolar may include mania or hypomania and episodes of depression.
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Individuals with bipolar disorder may also have periods of mood stability between these extremes. These can last for months or years, particularly if the person is following a treatment plan.
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Experts estimate around 2.8% of adults in the United States have had bipolar disorder in the past year. They also state that 4.4% experienced the condition at some point during their lives. What is OCD
OCD is a mental health condition.
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It involves unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, images, and sensations — or obsessions — and compulsions to perform certain behaviors repeatedly. These obsessions and compulsions can take various forms. For example, they can include repetitive handwashing and cleaning, hoarding, or performing certain rituals such as turning every light on and off three times.
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A person does not feel in control of these obsessive thoughts and urges. As a result, these can be extremely distressing and disruptive to their life. Around 2% of the population lives with OCD.
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Usually, symptoms begin during childhood, and it is rare for OCD to begin after 40 years of age. Are there any links between the two
More than 21% of people living with bipolar disorder also experience some symptoms of OCD.
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Research suggests that OCD symptoms are more widespread among those with bipolar disorder than in the general population. Experts debate whether these are two separate conditions that can co-occur or if OCD is a subtype of bipolar disorder. A 2016 review noted that people with bipolar disorder experience OCD symptoms more often during depressive episodes or intervals between depressive and manic phases.
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Some research suggests that if an individual has OCD and bipolar disorder, they are more likely to have a family history of mood disorders than someone with OCD only. However, they are less likely to have a family history of OCD.
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Other research has found no significant difference in rates in the family history of OCD between people with OCD alone and those with both conditions. Overall, it seems that there is a biological link between the two conditions.
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However, as research is limited, it is challenging to draw specific conclusions. Similarities and differences in symptoms
If an individual has bipolar disorder, they may experience OCD symptoms without having OCD.
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These tendencies may only occur during particularly high or low moods and may include:depressive episodesmanic episodesrapid mood changesobsessions and compulsionsuncontrollable thoughtschanges in sleep patternssocial problems
Although there are some similarities between symptoms, there are also distinct differences between them. For example, episodes of mania occur in bipolar disorder but not with OCD. Mania describes a period of increased energy or agitation, and the person is atypically upbeat or unusually talkative.
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During these episodes, they may have a decreased need for sleep and an extreme inability to focus. They may also engage in impulsive behaviors that may cause harmful effects. People experiencing mania may also show symptoms of psychosis, such as delusions or hallucinations.
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Some evidence also suggests that when an individual has OCD symptoms alongside bipolar, they have fewer checking compulsions but more obsessions relating to religion and sex. Treatment
Bipolar disorder and OCD can severely affect a person’s quality of life and cause considerable distress. Therefore, it is important to have a proper diagnosis and begin treatment.
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When both conditions co-occur, doctors may decide that the priority is to treat bipolar disorder symptoms because of their potentially harmful nature. Treatment for bipolar disorder
People with bipolar disorder have the condition for life, even though individuals can go years between episodes. Therefore, treatment focuses on long-term mood stabilization and should continue even if the person is experiencing no symptoms at that time.
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Psychiatrists may use a combination of psychotherapy and medication to treat bipolar disorder. Medications may include:Anticonvulsants: Antiseizure medication may help control mood changes.
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Options include sodium valproate injections (Depacon), carbamazepine (Tegretol XR), and gabapentin (Gabarone).Antidepressants: Although these medications may help with depression relating to bipolar disorder, they cannot help with mania. Options include serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.Antipsychotics: Medications, including prochlorperazine (Compazine) and molindone (Moban), may help psychotic episodes.Benzodiazepines: Aprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan) may help ease insomnia and anxiety.Lithium: This mood-stabilizing medication is the gold standard for bipolar disorder treatment, as it can reduce the risk of suicide.
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Psychotherapies that may help with bipolar disorder include:cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)interpersonal and social rhythm therapyfamily-focused therapy
Treatment for OCD
Doctors frequently prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as a first-line treatment for people with OCD. This antidepressant increases serotonin levels in the brain. However, doctors are cautious when prescribing SSRIs if the individual also has bipolar disorder, as it can trigger a manic episode in someone with a preexisting bipolar disorder.
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Therefore, doctors may suggest other combinations of antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anticonvulsants, or antipsychotics. Antidepressant medications for OCD may include: fluoxetine (Prozac)fluvoxamineparoxetine (Paxil, Pexeva)sertraline (Zoloft)
Therapies, including CBT and exposure and response prevention, are the mainstay of OCD treatments.
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Outlook
Most people with bipolar disorder or OCD can live relatively symptom-free lives with treatment. However, both conditions are chronic and may require lifelong management. It is important to note that people with co-occurring bipolar disorder and OCD have a higher risk of suicide than those with either condition alone.
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Therefore, it is essential to seek professional help if an individual or someone they know is experiencing difficulties from these conditions. Suicide prevention
If you know someone at immediate risk of self-harm, suicide, or hurting another person:Ask the tough question: “Are you considering suicide?”Listen to the person without judgment.Call 911 or the local emergency number, or text TALK to 741741 to communicate with a trained crisis counselor.Stay with the person until professional help arrives.Try to remove any weapons, medications, or other potentially harmful objects. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, a prevention hotline can help.
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The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 988. During a crisis, people who are hard of hearing can use their preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. Click here for more links and local resources.
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Summary
Bipolar disorder and OCD are two mental health conditions that can severely affect a person’s quality of life. Doctors can prescribe medications and therapies for both conditions to help people cope with their symptoms.
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Treatment may focus on bipolar disorder when both conditions co-occur due to its potentially severe nature. However, both conditions are chronic and may require lifelong management.
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People with co-occurring bipolar disorder and OCD have a higher risk of suicide than those with either condition alone. Therefore, anyone experiencing mental distress should seek professional help and support.
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Last medically reviewed on June 27, 2022BipolarMental HealthPsychology / Psychiatry 10 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles.
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You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Abdel, A. A., et al.
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(2019). Sexual and religious obsessions in relation to suicidal ideation in bipolar disorder [Abstract]. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/sltb.12540Amerio, A.
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(2019). Suicide risk in comorbid bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder: A systematic review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436414/Amerio, A., et al.
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(2014). Treatment of comorbid bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder: A systematic review [Abstract]. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032714003140?via%3DihubAmerio, A., et al.
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(2016). Course of illness in comorbid bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder patients [Abstract]. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1876201815301118?via%3DihubBipolar disorder.
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(n.d.). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/bipolar-disorderBrock, H., et al.
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(2022). Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553162/Jain, A., et al. (2022). Bipolar affective disorder.
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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558998/Obsessive-compulsive disorder. (2018).
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https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/Patel, R., et al. (2015). Do antidepressants increase the risk of mania and bipolar disorder in people with depression?
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A retrospective electronic case register cohort study. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4679886/Peng, D., et al.
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(2015). Comorbid bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4621290/FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Lori Lawrenz, PsyD — By Zia Sherrell, MPH on June 27, 2022
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New clues arise
Related CoverageWhat to know about bipolar II disorderMedically reviewed by Alexander Klein, PsyD
Bipolar II disorder involves episodes of elevated mood and depression. Learn how it differs from bipolar I, how to recognize it, and which treatments…READ MOREWhat to know about atypical bipolar
Atypical bipolar involves symptoms that differ in some way to those of the more common types of bipolar disorder. Learn more here.READ MOREWhat is the connection between anxiety and bipolar disorder?Medically reviewed by Alyssa Peckham, PharmD, BCPP
About half of people with bipolar disorder also have an anxiety disorder.
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Learn more.READ MOREBipolar type definitionsMedically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD
There are five categories of bipolar disorder.
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Bipolar I and II occur most frequently, while other types are less common. Learn more about the…READ MOREIs there a cure for bipolar disorder?Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD
Bipolar disorder is a long term mental health condition.
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Although there is currently no cure, there are many treatments available that can reduce…READ MORE
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