The Science & Treatment of Bipolar Disorder | Huberman Lab Podcast #82
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.
#HubermanLab #Bipolar #BipolarDisorder
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Timestamps
00:00:00 Bipolar Disorder
00:02:23 Momentous Supplements
00:03:42 Tool: Appetite Suppression & GLP-1, Parallel Pathways, Yerba Mate
00:10:23 InsideTracker, ROKA, Blinkist
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
The Huberman Lab Podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.
Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac – https://www.blabacphoto.com
24 Comments
Also increase appetite, ridiculously!
hey there for all brothers and sisters handeling this BD. 17 years with this, now i'm 40. i wanted to share some tips thats helped me.
try to quit alcohol,
sleep atleast 7 hours and if you go to bed early it's even better,
eat clean and reduce to minimume fake fast food, empty carbs, suger.
try to learn more about god or other spirtual conecpts thats you can connect. i really liked ram dass and buddism as a tool
try to keep your mind clean and fresh, avoid media and negative talk, tv, gossip ect.
dont live in fantasy land, you are NOT the messaih your just wonderful special snowflake that can live in peace if you just let go of your boiling mind
understand that most important time is now.
dont chase after succes, leaving peacefully is your answer
workout, and find out which routine fits you the best.
many bipolarpeople tried to live without meds, in 99% it was a disaster, choose wisely
hope someone finds this useful. much love❤
Thanks
Boring. You are impressed with yourself and all your side talks ie hx of lithium.
@1:16:35 I felt this.
I appreciate the info in this episode very much. In my experience (bipolar 1) mania and depression come in a tightly wrapped package . I have never heard an expert talk about them so separately like this.
As to psychedelics – I wish there was more info on this. They have significantly helped me, especially the feelings of anxiety and panic that come as I'm transitioning from one state to another. They also help me gain perspective on my own thoughts and look at them from the 'outside' and see how irrational they are. I agree with your comments on cannabis – I try to use it to calm my anxiety and 'knock the edges off' but it just magnifies my inability to focus and anxiety.
I love your podcast and have learned so much. Thanks.
I just want to be a regular person
From your explanation (thank you) regarding uric dopamine, lithium, and also uric acid's roll in promoting dopamine being over produced, and then its receptors being dialed back due to homeostasis processes, i was compelled to look into the correlation of my ckd/gout issues and my 35 or so year old bipolar 1 struggles. To my suprise there is so much interaction and so many relative feed back loops pertaining to the 3 of them that its a travesty that neither my neurphologist , my g.p, or any mental health care professional that has ever worked with me , ever once mentioned it. Had they done so i would have considered staying on allopurinal for Gout . It was uncontrolled as my kidney became less functional and allopurinal at some point is just another toxin if it isnt helpful so i decided to remain off of it. Now i see the negative feedback loop and will definitely get back on it. Its hard to imagine a drug that limits uric acid production not effecting my brain in a manner similar to Lithium which lowers your uric acid by breaking it down and allowing it to be secreted with urine more easily.
Also, i think its disgusting that mental health professionaks very rarely test for vit D, B12, and magnesium deficiencies before they give any patient, especially juveniles whose brains are still imbued with such powerful neuroplastic capabilities, any ssri or type of drug that plays directly with the homeostasis of powerful neurotransmitters
good discussion but how many insurance plans have you heard of that allow any talk therapy? In my 40+ years of treatment with multiple insurance companies, I was lucky to get 15 minutes including: 'How are you", a review of current medicines, write new scripts, reschedule in 3 to 4 months! PERIOD!
You are so right* 😢 I have it i have bipolar type 2.
And i have made an attempt.
borderpolar gang 2025 anyone? stay well yall
1:29:50
I don't really trust study results without a thorough vetting of the methodologies and funding sources and associations. Natural remedies are often unjustly discredited through "scientific" studies with biased funding sources. Also, you can't control for variables if you don't already have an idea of these variables. No studies control for EMF. Whether you believe in this or not we are at a point in this very modern world, where studies need to start controlling for EMF to see if and how much this energy is effecting us. There is some basic evidence suggesting that artificial light, at inappropriate times especially, can cause all types of mental illness and sleep issues. Do a study on night shift workers, like nurses, and you'll probably find a high degrees of mental and sleep issues. I enjoy Huberman's podcasts immensely. He is definitely so curious!
Do not recommend psychedelics while manic. Although that seems to be when I always did it. Seemed to make me more manic and want to do it more
You were very diplomatic about policing words etc but let’s be frank – it’s extremely rude and ignorant to say so and so is a bit ocd, bipolar etc and trivialise and compare behaviours on the healthy ‘normal’ spectrum with those suffered by people with these serious and debilitating illnesses.
Hi
I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder in 2010 by a criminal Phyciatrist.
My mania led to law breaking but not just law breaking but setting a precedence in the law.
I was accidentally jail for 16months but won my appeal.
My mum told me before i did the crime in psychosis that my Dad was manic Depressive she was told by Doctors before i was born but Dad was never formally Diagnosed but his illness distroyed our family as he was very NARRSASIST so we all suffered his domestic violence.
So i grew up with abandonment issues and codependency issues and life has been a train reck really but im ok now after 17 years of wellness.
I wish i was your mum when u were growing up mate cause you have a fantastic brain to remember all this shit.
If lithium is so good and from a natural source then why does it kill the Thyroid.
It killed mine after not long being on it.
I hate that.
Do u have the link for STAR DUST and how it travels here please.
Ty
You look more like a wrestler than a professor
Thank you for this
My brain became damaged in childhood, and on top of a family history of bipolar, it's great how we have so much awareness and things to help keep moving forward while celebrating our weaknesses vulnerabilities and strengths in a world where some genuinely care and they do alot to help and support people and show kindness and understanding, this is amazing, its incredible how our strengths despite our setbacks and adversity can help forge us into champions,
Everyone has strengths and weakness, it's been other peoples kindness that has warmed my heart ❤️🔥❣️
The heart is a powerful muscle, because the longer it pumps blood to keep us alive.. The more amazing people we will meet along the way in our journeys, ENJOY 👍
Antipsychotics used to treat bipolar disorder cause harmful side effects like erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and enlarged prostate. Please stay away from these harmful drugs