If you are unable to work because of bipolar disorder you may be able to make a TPD claim for a lump sum from the Total & Permanent Disablement insurance contained within your superannuation fund. There is no necessity for you to have been involved in an accident or to have suffered a work related injury to make a TPD claim. If you suffer from total and permanent disability, you may be able to make a TPD claim in addition to receiving your super early as a result of your condition. Our solicitors can advise you in detail as to the requirements of a successful submission, they will prepare all relevant paperwork and will obtain full supporting documentation. Our lawyers will give you free advice on the likely success of your claim to a super fund, without further obligation. It costs nothing to use our free advice service.

Our TPD claim solicitors use a risk free no win no fee arrangement.

We have offices situated in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Darwin.

Bipolar Disorder - TPD

Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric disorder that involves alternating moods of mania (“high mood”) and depression (“low mood”). The mood swings noted with bipolar disorder can come on abruptly or gradually and a person can have a predominately manic state or a predominately depressive state.

The causes of bipolar disorder are unknown. It affects men and women equally and usually comes on between the ages of 15 and 25. It is somewhat hereditary, affecting children and grandchildren of bipolar sufferers.

The types of bipolar disorder are as follows: 1) there is bipolar disorder type I, which involves at least one episode of mania. 2) Bipolar type II involves someone with depression who has not experienced a full-fledged manic attack. Instead, the person has had one or more hypomanic attacks. 3) the mildest form of bipolar disorder involves episodes of mild hypomania and mild depression, with less severe mood swings overall.

Things that can trigger a manic episode include a major life change, such as a job change or childbirth, medications taken for depression (which do not treat mania and can precipitate them), recreational drug use and long periods of lack of sleep. The manic phase can last a few days or can last months and is associated with irritability or agitation, delusions of grandeur, little need for sleep, elevated mood, racing thoughts, hyperactivity, increased energy, over-involvement in certain activities, reckless behaviour, easy distractibility, and poor control over temper. With bipolar disorder type II, the symptoms are less well defined, fewer and not as intense.

In the depressed phase of the illness, there is a low mood situation, difficulty making decisions or difficulty concentrating, loss of appetite, overeating with weight gain, guilty feelings or feelings of worthlessness, tiredness or feeling listless, loss of self esteem, sadness, persistent thoughts of death, difficulty sleeping (too much or too little), thoughts of death or suicide, withdrawal from activities that were once enjoyed and withdrawal from family and friends. Suicide has a high potential with bipolar disorder and it can happen with the manic phase or the depressive phase of the disease.

Some bipolar patients can be in a mixed state, with a mixture of depressive and manic symptoms at the same time.

Doctors can do a psychiatric evaluation to see if there is bipolar disorder going on. The doctor can ask about family history of the disease and a personal history of depressive or manic times in their life. The doctor will take a look at your mood and your behaviour and may do a MMPI or Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, which can show signs of bipolar disorder. The doctor may ask family members about your mood and behaviour and will ask you about your use of recreational drugs, which may mimic bipolar disorder or might cause the disease.

Treatment of bipolar disorder involves treating both the depressive and manic phases of the disease. Often treatment of the manic phase involves the use of Lithium, Depakote or other anti-convulsant medication, like valproic acid, to keep the manic phases from happening. Antidepressants are used to prevent low mood conditions and anti-psychotics are used to prevent delusions and hallucinations, which sometimes accompany the manic phase of the disorder. Anxiolytic medications, like benzodiazepines, are used to prevent anxiety states of thinking and behavior. In rare manic or depressive cases, then electroconvulsive therapy is used to “reset” the nervous system and block the manic phase or depressive phase of the condition.

There are supportive therapies and support groups for people with bipolar disorder. They can be used for families and patients alike in order to help get through the disease.

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