A Comprehension of Bipolar Disorder - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 822 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2019/07/31 Category Medicine Essay Level High school Topics: Bipolar Disorder Essay Did you like this example? Bipolar disorder is believed to originate as far back as Early Greek and Roman periods. Lithium salts were used in bath waters to calm people during that time. In the 17th Century, both Robert Burton and Theophilus Bonet, identified the link between mania and melancholy. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "A Comprehension of Bipolar Disorder" essay for you Create order The first documented case of bipolar disorder was done in the 19th Century by the French psychiatrist, Jean-Pierre Falret. An article was written describing circular insanity which details people switching through severe depression and manic excitement. (2018, Krans, Cherney). Since then, the highly investigated neurological disease has been pursued. The first time the term bipolar disorder appeared was in the 1980 third edition of American Psychiatric Associations (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Bipolar disorder defined The Bipolar (two poles) disorder, previously called manic depression, has been determined as a neurological disorder in which the person shifts dramatically between the opposite differences of mania and depression. A created mental illness affecting a persons moods, energy, activity levels, and everyday life such as decision-making processes, tasks, sleep, and perspectives on reality. Mania is excitement, delusions, and euphoria while depression is severe sadness, despondency, and dejection. Mood swings can shift between highs and lows in a matter of minutes and the person can become very agreeable to very unreasonable. Symptoms There are four types of bipolar disorders with varying severities and may have related disorders associated. The first type is Bipolar I disorder with manic episodes lasting a minimum of seven days, requiring hospitalization, following with severe depression, and creating a break from reality or psychosis and dangerous. The second type is Bipolar II disorder with a pattern of hypomanic and depressive episodes for longer periods, occurring a minimum of two years but without a manic episode and can cause a significant impairment in the persons life. The third type of bipolar disorder is called Cyclothymia, having numerous periods of hypomania and depressive symptoms for at least two years with one year occurring during the childhood or adolescence years. The fourth is other specified and unspecified bipolar and related disorders which are defined by not matching any of the other three symptoms. These can be induced by certain drugs or alcohol or due to a medical condition, such as Cush ings disease, multiple sclerosis or stroke (Mayo, 2016). Symptoms can occur with a chemical change to the body such as hormone imbalance through pregnancy or menopause or seasonal changes in the environment. The symptoms of mania and hypomania have the same symptoms but different types of episodes with mania being more serious with noticeable problems in the persons life including work, school, social activities, and relationships. An episode comprises of three or more of the following characteristics which include abnormally upbeat, jumpy, or wired, increased activity, energy, agitation, irritable, or touchy, exaggerated sense of well-being and self-confidence or euphoria, decreased need for sleep, unusual talkativeness about various subjects, racing thoughts, distractibility, and poor decision-making such as spending sprees, sexual risks, or impulsive investments (Mayo, 2016). The symptoms of a depressive episodes reflect a noticeable difficulty in functioning with everyday life such as work, school, social activities, and relationships. An episode would consist of five or more of the following characteristics which include a depressed mood such as feeling sad, down, hopeless, tearful or irritability, feeling worried or empty, loss of interest or no pleasure in almost all activities, significant weight loss without dieting, weight gain, or an increase or decrease in appetite, either insomnia or excessive sleeping, restlessness or loss of energy, tired or slowed down, decreased activity levels, feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt, decreased ability to concentrate, think, or indecisiveness, forgetting things often, and think about death or the idea of suicide with either planning or attempting (Mayo, 2016). Diagnosis Diagnosis should include a physical exam and lab tests to identify any potential medical problems, and a psychiatric exam to evaluate thoughts, feelings, behavior patterns, and personal perspectives. Sometimes family members or close friends will be requested to fill out surveys to help provide information. Mood charting sleep patterns, or eating journals may also be applicable in helping to diagnose and provide the right treatments. A mental health physician or psychiatrist may compare symptoms with the criteria in the American Psychiatric Associations (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Causes Exact causes are unknown but many aspects contribute including genetics, stress, and biological structure and function of the brain. Genetics increase the chances of acquiring the disorder when there is a history of the illness in a parent or sibling. Physical changes in the brain such as average size or activation happening are being identified as a contributing factor. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), the average age of onset is about 25 years old but can occur in teens, or more commonly in childhood and affect men and women equally with 2.6% of the U.S. population diagnosed and nearly 83% are classified as severe (2017).