Bipolar Disorder : The Facts And The Myths

This source gives the readers an in-depth overview of Bipolar Disorder and the causes of having the mental health issue. There’s a great distinction between the ups and downs people experience and bipolar disorder. Due to the ups and downs teens and children experience, bipolar disorder is hard to diagnose during those early years. The National Center of Biotechnology Information’s research program is run by Senior Investigators, Tenure Track Investigators, Staff Scientists, and Postdoctoral Fellows which makes the source credible. The source contained

Bipolar disorder is a manic-depressive lifelong illness in the brain that causes shifts in mood, energy, activity, and the ability to carry out normal tasks, but efficient treatment helps people to manage these complications and normalize their daily lives. This illness is a very serious mental disease affecting about 2.6 percent of adults in the United States that has the power to cause risky behavior and even suicidal tendencies if not treated (www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml). It is more common in older teens and young adults, but it affects children as young as six years old. It affects men and women, all races, ethnic groups, and socioeconomic classes equally but women experience more periods of depression than

Bipolar disorder is a long-term mental illness that is formerly called manic depression. There are many types and episodes of bipolar disorder. The three main types of bipolar disorder are Bipolar I disorder, Bipolar II disorder, and Cyclothymic disorder. The 3 main episodes of bipolar disorder are Manic Episode, Major Depressive Episode, and Hypo manic Episode. There are many ways to treat the bipolar disorder, including medicine, counseling, and alternative medicine. mood swings, (mania, hypomania, or depression). Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, and affects the brain and causes shifts in a person's mood and ability to function

A common misconception regarding bipolar disorders is that every individual that is diagnosed experiences the same symptoms. Bipolar (and related) disorders can be similar in that they all invoke a form of lability in an individual’s mood, but the differences in frequency, duration, and intensity are unique to the individual. In order to fully understand the diagnosis of bipolar I disorder, it is important to recognize the complete spectrum. The distinct types of bipolar and related disorders are bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, other specified/ unspecified bipolar and related disorder and cyclothymic disorder. The most severe form and the topic of this paper, of these types, is Bipolar I disorder. Bipolar I disorder is characterized by extreme manic episodes that may follow hypomanic and major depressive episodes (“Bipolar Disorder”, n.d. a). Bipolar II disorder is similar in nature with major depressive episodes, however, the heightened mood is due to hypomanic episodes, which are not as extreme as manic episodes (“Bipolar Disorder”, n.d. a). Other specified/unspecified bipolar and related disorder identifies when an individual has symptoms of bipolar and related disorders but does not meet the full criteria for a specific diagnosis (DSM V, 2013). Lastly, cyclothymic disorder is distinguished by noticeable alterations in an individual’s baseline mood that are not as severe as bipolar I disorder or bipolar II disorder (Morrison, 2014). Despite the differences in the

Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder that is also known as manic depression. The term “bipolar” can be separated to find its definition. Bi- meaning two, and –polar meaning two opposing poles. Signifying the 2 polar opposites of depression and mania. Its first appearance in the American Psychiatrist Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), was in its 3rd revision of 1980. There are three types of Bipolar disorder: bipolar 1, Bipolar 2, and cyclothymic disorder. This disorder is important because everyday many untreated people struggle with it due to a lack of information on this given subject. It 's history, symptoms, and treatments will be discussed in the following pages.

Bipolar disorder is an illness known for its unique fast transitional mood shifts, usually from manic to depressive. (Moore, P et al., 2014.) This illness holds no prejudice as it can affect anyone at any age, gender or race. (Smith, M 2014) Bipolar disorder is not only dangerous to the patients themselves but could also potentially cause harm to bystanders as well. It is important to get treatment and prevent it from further development. A patient with bipolar disorder cannot differentiate between reality and insanity; they severely lack comprehension of their actions and behaviour as they are unaware of their mood swings. Unable to acknowledge their actions, they are additionally unable to grasp control of their physical, verbal and psychological vivacity.

When a seventh grader at Frederick Area High School in Frederick, South Dakota, was asked to describe what bipolar disorder is, he said that it refers to people that “change personalities fast” (McGaugh). However, this is only a common misconception. Though the word “bipolar” is often used in conversations to describe a person that has mood swings, bipolar disorder actually refers to a serious mental illness. According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, about 2.6 percent of American adults suffer from a form of bipolar disorder, and about one in five people with bipolar disorder commits suicide. Despite the impact that bipolar disorder has on the lives of patients and families alike, it is treated casually by people across the United States. Even though many treat it flippantly, bipolar disorder is a serious mental ailment, and the public needs to have a greater understanding of it.

In the United States alone, approximately five point seven million people have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, being considered “the sixth leading cause of disability among middle age group and the ninth leading cause of years lost to death or disability worldwide” (Sawan & Hamilton, 2015). Although equal in both males and females, studies have shown that males are prone to developing bipolar disease earlier in life. On the other hand, females are three times more likely to experience rapid cycling and have more depressive and mixed episodes when compared with males. Average age for onset of bipolar disorder is twenty five years, however, studies have shown that illness can develop at any age, including early childhood (Sawan & Hamilton, 2015). Increased risk factors for both men and women diagnosed with bipolar disorder may include ischemic heart disease, diabetes and COPD, together with influenza and pneumonia. In accordance with Swan & Hamilton (2015), bipolar disorder risk factors are probably caused by genetic factors, unhealthy behaviors and pathophysiologic changes occurring with bipolar patients; also medications used to treat this disorder (Sawan & Hamilton, 2015).

Bipolar disorder is divided into two categories – bipolar I and bipolar II. Bipolar I is a more severe than bipolar II. People with bipolar I experience mania accompanied with irritable mood. This type of mania or manic episode involves delusional thinking. The manic episode can only be diagnosed if it is accompanied with three or more symptoms on a daily basis for a minimum of one week. Usually, hospitalization is a necessary if the individual isn’t taking

Bipolar I is when one suffers from severe manic symptoms or a manic episode that lasts for at least one week. Then the manic turns into a depressive episode that lasts twice as long. For Bipolar II, one suffers from depressive and hypomanic episodes that are less severe than those with Bipolar I. Then there is cyclothymic disorder, which is, “defined by numerous periods of hypomanic symptoms as well numerous periods of depressive symptoms lasting for at least 2 years (1 year in children and adolescents). However, the symptoms do not meet the diagnostic requirements for a hypomanic episode and a depressive episode” (Bipolar Disorder N.P). This means that one's symptoms are not severe enough to be considered as Bipolar I or II, but they still suffer from hypomanic and depressive episodes. The last one is unspecified bipolar disorder; this is when people show some signs of the the disorder but do not fit in with the other three types. Those are the different types of bipolar

Doctors don 't completely understand what causes bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder often runs in families, and researchers believe there is a genetic factor, that not just one gene is involved but multiple genes and chromosomes. The neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, are factors involved in mania and depression. During a manic episode the patient with bipolar will have high levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine and low levels during a depression episode. It is estimated that between 25% and 50% of people with Bipolar Spectrum Disorder attempt suicide and 11% succeed in ending their life (Varcarolis, 2009). Bipolar disorder affects men and women equally, as well as all races, ethnic groups, and socioeconomic classes.

The varying symptoms, as explained above, can range from depression, which is a persistent feeling of sadness and can include loss of energy and interest to mania that is a state of great excitement, euphoria, over activity and even delusions. In bipolar disorder type I the diagnosis is based on at least one full blown manic episode and one or more episodes of major depression. It is equally as common in women as it is in men, although usually in men, the first symptom is mania and in women, the first episode is typically depression. In bipolar type II the diagnosis requires major depression but instead of full-blown mania they experience hypomania which is high energy and other similarities such as excitability and impulsiveness but not as severe as mania. Bipolar type II is more common in women than men. Cyclothymic disorder is another type of bipolar disorder, which is characterized by less severe mood swings, episodes shifting from hypomania or mixed symptoms within a year. It may have more than one episode within a week or even within a day. Cyclothymic disorder is more common in people who present with symptoms at a younger age and it affects more

There are also several types of bipolar disorders, depending on the nature of the illness. The main types are Bipolar I disorder, Bipolar II disorder, and cyclothymic disorder. Bipolar I disorder includes individuals who have had at least one full manic or mixed mood episode, and may or may not suffer from episodes of depression. Bipolar II disorder includes persons who have had at least one depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode, but never experience a full manic or mixed mood episode. Bipolar II may go unrecognized because the hypomanic symptoms may not appear that unusual. Cyclothymic disorder includes individuals who have suffered numerous hypomanic and depressive symptoms over at least 2 years that are not severe or not long enough in duration to meet the criteria for a mood episode. The subtypes of bipolar disorder include: rapid cycling, seasonal pattern, and post-partum onset. Individuals who experience more frequent mood episodes (4 or more per year) are called rapid cyclers. Some persons have predictable seasonal

Bipolar disorders has its highs and lows and sometimes can be simply mis diagnosed as having depression by the patient, relatives, friends, and even physician. It wasn’t that long ago when bipolar disorder was confused with other disorders such as unipolar depression or schizophrenia. Doctors have come along way in fully understanding different moods in this disorder and making an accurate diagnosis. With great understanding of this mental disorder, doctors can now identify the signs and symptom. The symptoms vary widely in their pattern, severity, and frequency. Some people are prone to either mania or depression, while others alternate equally between two episodes. They are four types of mood episodes in bipolar disorders mania, hypomania, depression, and mixed episodes. Each type of bipolar disorder mood episode has a unique set of symptoms. Some of the symptoms are:

In the world of mental health disorders, one of the most common is Bipolar Disorder. According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), Bipolar Disorder affects as much as 2.6% of the adult population. The effects of Bipolar Disorder can range from mild (having little impact on the patient’s day to day life) to severe (making the patient’s life debilitating and nonfunctioning). Bipolar Disorder also has a devastating effect on the patient’s friends and family. Bipolar Disorder is one of the most common mental health disorders, however, with proper treatment; the sufferer can go on to live a normal and useful life.