Bipolar Disorder Research Paper

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 2378 words ( 8 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 7

Page 1 of 8

Bipolar Disorder and the Impact

Manic-depressive illness is termed as the bipolar disorder. It is a brain disorder and causes swings in mood, fluctuation in the energy levels and the inability of a person to carry out the daily activities. There are various symptoms of this disorder, which can be very severe. There are three conditions or types of disorder, which include mania, hypomania, and depression. There are feelings of creativity, social ease, and extra ordinary energy in the condition of mania. There are less severe symptoms in the condition of hypomania as compared to mania. The effects of depression are more intense than other two conditions. There are both positive and negative effects of this condition. The positive effects are creativity, social connectedness and enhanced autonomy whereas, the negative effects are psychosis, depression and anxiety and some personality disorders.

The Effects of Bipolar Disorder and the Impact

Introduction

The bipolar disorder is also called as the manic-depressive illness. It is a disorder of the brain that causes swings of mood, changes in activity and energy levels and the inability to carry out the daily tasks. The symptoms of this disease are very severe. These symptoms are different from the normal ups and downs that are faced by the people. The symptoms of bipolar disorder can result in poor performance at school or workplace, damage in relationships and suicide. However, this disorder can be treated, and those people who are suffering from it can have a productive and whole life.

Sometimes the bipolar disorder develops in the life of a person when he is in initial adult years or late teens. Almost half of the cases of this disorder are reported to be initiated before the age of 25. There are some people who experience the initial signs in their childhood and other have these symptoms in later life. It is not easy to identify the bipolar disorder at the initial stage and the symptoms can be considered as different problems and not a complete problem. Many people suffer from the disease for a longer period before the appropriate treatment and diagnosis. This order is a long-term and complete illness that requires proper management (Goodwin & Jamison, 2007).

Discussion

Symptoms

Mania

Mania starts with a feeling of extreme energy, social ease and creativity. The feelings in this condition can be quickly shifted to continuous and extreme mood that includes irritable or expansive mood. This can also include an inflated feeling of self-esteem. In the manic condition, most of the people become talkative, physically active, and distractible. The sleeping habits are also found to be reduced in those people. Most of the people cannot identify that there is something wrong with them, and they seemed to be enjoying the feelings of mania.

The judgmental abilities of the person also become impaired and due to this condition, the risk taking behavior is increased that includes sexual activities and overspending. In many of the severe cases, the affected person can also feel psychotic symptoms like delusions or hallucinations. In the feeling of mania, some people can also feel belligerent and angry instead of the feeling of euphoria (Miklowitz, 2011).

Hypomania

This is the mild mania, but it has less severe symptoms, and it causes less impairment. In the episodes of hypomania, the person can have an elevated mood, and he can be more productive. The condition of hypomania do not remain maintained, and it can lead to a crash of depression or it can also be shifted to mania (Miklowitz, 2011).

Depression

There are many forms of depression and in the normal conditions of sadness; the symptoms of depression are intense. In addition, the symptoms of depression can be hopelessness, constant feelings of despair and frustration. Many people feel irritated or angry, and some have the feelings of guilt or worthlessness. There is a decrease in energy, difficulties in sleeping, reduced interest in daily activities and changes in weight of the affected person. The thinking abilities of the affected individual are reduced, and concentration is impaired. In the extreme conditions of depression, delusions and hallucinations are also involved. The condition of depression can create disturbance in all the aspects of life (Miklowitz, 2011).

Causes

The causes of the bipolar disorder are not yet known completely. Bad parenting has reported it. It is also not a result of a fault in character or moral weakness. Research has shown that the genetic factors play an important role in the development of the disease.

Stuck Writing Your "Bipolar Disorder" Research Paper?

View All Our Example Bipolar Disorder Research Paper

Have A Custom Example Essay Written

People who are suffering from the disorder are more susceptible to physical stress and emotional disorder. They can also feel a lack of sleep and disturbances in the relationships. Some of the affected people can also be involved in the intake of alcohol or drugs. The manic episodes can be triggered by excessive stimulation or some alteration in routine.

There are not any laboratory tests or x-rays that can be used for the diagnosis of the disorder. The physician takes a detailed history, and he diagnose according to the group of symptoms that take place together. The studies in brain research have indicated that there are differences in the brain function that can lead to the bipolar disorder. The bipolar disorder usually initiates at the age of 18 to 24 years or in the late 40s or 50s. It has been estimated that approximately 1.2% of the adult population is affected by bipolar disorder and both the genders are found to be equally affected. The effects of the disorder can be decreased by early diagnosis, the proper method of treatment and medicines.

Impact of Development of Disorder

The problems with the extreme moods initiated in the late adolescence or the initial adulthood. Younger adolescents can also experience these problems, but they do not experience the extreme mood swings. The milder mood swings are called as cyclothymia (Parker, McCraw & Fletcher, 2012). The period of adolescence is the time when an individual develops the decision-making and problem solving skills. Moreover, the person also becomes able to manage his feelings and mood. Initial problems that can lead to the development of the bipolar disorder are instability of mood, changes in behavior, social withdrawal and mood instability. These disturbances can also because the problem in the development of the identity of a person, his career, and relationships.

Almost all of the people experience problems with depression and mania that are combined with the periods of stability. In addition, this condition varies according to the people and some can only have a single episode of mania. The pattern of disorder can vary greatly with time in a single person. For instance, the length of time between the different episodes can also vary. There are many people who experience symptoms of mood and the episodes that are related to the problems in day-to-day functioning and stress (Judd et al., 2003).

Positive Impact

Many people have described that there are some positive aspects of the bipolar disorder in their life that include creativity, social connectedness, and enhanced autonomy. It is also reported that many distinguished and famous people also suffer from bipolar disorder (Pendulum, 2009). Many people also do not like to exchange the relative stress that is caused by their mood difficulties in life that is not according to the positive aspects.

Alternative Labels

There are many people who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and they are also diagnosed with any other disease at the same time. The most common problems are psychosis, depression, and anxiety and some personality disorders are also identified. This arrangement of symptoms can create confusion and difficulties for the people. It can also lead to the changes in the course of medication. In addition, the use of multiple labels is due to different emotional difficulties that include mood swings. The common problem is anxiety and psychotic experiences that are especially present during mania. In some people, paranoia is also developed during the time of grandiosity as a fear can also develop that someone wants to hurt or harm the affected person because of his special powers.

Family Characteristics

The family characteristics can also lead to a problem that results in the diagnosis of bipolar disorder and the development of the disorder with time. There are some people who have mood problems, and they can produce an effect on the whole family. There are two main areas that are important in a family. In the first, there are different critical patterns of family communication and some family members are overly protective, and they are at higher risk of the future episodes of mood. These types of communication patterns can be addressed by using the psychological help. Secondly, the different sources of informal support and friendships are also important (Weinstock et al., 2006).

Family Functioning

The research of expressed emotion was initiated in those families who were identified to be suffering from schizophrenia. This research has showed that in those conditions when the families are.....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


Related Essays

Bipolar Disorder

Abstract This paper will provide an overview of bipolar disorder, as currently described in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). It will explain how the symptoms of the disorder may manifest themselves, different treatment options, and evolving research in the field. Bipolar disorder remains a complex mental disease that can often mispresent in its features to clinicians, depending on the type and stage of the mood cycle the patient is in, so a clearer understanding by psychiatric clinicians, sufferers, and family members is needed. Bipolar Disorder: An Overview Bipolar disorder… Continue Reading...

Bipolar and Borderline Disorders

Bipolar and Personality Disorder Introduction Approximately 20% of patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder are also found to suffer from borderline personality disorder (Zimmerman & Morgan, 2013). While some of the symptoms and characteristics of both disorders are similar, it is important, as Zimmerman and Morgan (2013) point out, to distinguish between the two, as each requires its own form of treatment in order to allow the patient to overcome the issues associated with each. This paper will discuss the treatment considerations for a person presenting with both bipolar disorder and personality disorder. Comorbid Disorders DSM-5 (2013) states that the diagnostic criteria… Continue Reading...

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

(National Institute of Mental Health, 2018). To differentiate DMDD from pediatric bipolar disorder, it is also essential that the child does not exhibit sustained mood elevation or nonepisodic mania (Beweka, Mayes, Hameed, et al, 2016). Moreover, the symptoms of DMDD persist in spite of changes to the child’s environment, evident at home and also in school. Symptoms must also not be temporary, but in place for a year or more. While on the surface DMDD appears no different from any other psychiatric illness, it is in fact a nebulous disorder that closely resembles oppositional defiant disorder. Including DMDD in the DSM-V… Continue Reading...

Stigma of Mental Illness

Schizophrenia, Dissociative Disorder and Bipolar Disorder While some symptoms of schizophrenia, dissociative disorder and bipolar disorder might seem similar, prompting individuals to suspect that the three different mental health disorders are interchangeable, the reality is that these three problems are quite distinct. This paper will discuss the broad differences between them as well as way to educate the client about his or her disorder, his or her family about it, and ways to reduce stigma. As the DSM-5 points out, schizophrenia a mental disorder that causes the patient to experience hallucinations, delusions, irrational speech… Continue Reading...

Influence of Child Abuse in Adulthood

that a traumatic social environment during childhood often results in social cognitive issues and greater severity of illness for individuals with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, borderline personality disorder, or PTSD (Hovens, et al., 2010). Childhood abuse, neglect, and trauma leaves victims at higher risks of developing cognitive impairment, which will later on influence social interaction and perception, a central disability aspect in main psychiatric disorders. Social cognitive function issues are a characteristic feature of main psychiatric disorders leading to poor occupational and social functioning, particularly with respect to emotional control and recognition (Torjesen, 2019), social perception, attributional style, and theory of mind (capacity to ascribe mental states to others… Continue Reading...

Policy Alternatives for Mental Health

of their major life activities. Some of the most common mental health conditions experienced by adults in the United States include anxiety disorder, substance use disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. The prevalence of mental illnesses among adults in the United States has made it one of the major public health issues in the country. As a result, various initiatives have been developed and implemented in the U.S. healthcare system to help address mental health problems among adults and other patient populations. Colpe et al. (2010) contends that public health systems in the United States have relied on public health surveillance to develop health programs. In this case, public health system in the U.S. utilize mental health surveillance to… Continue Reading...

Discharge Summary

agents; more so if there is suspicion of psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder. There might be need to recommend partial hospitalization in centers with intense CBT and management of medication (Bystritsky, Khalsa, Cameron, & Schiffman, 2013). 4. Based on your assessment of current symptomology, does your client, Eliza, need wraparound services, outpatient references, and/or step-down services?  The wraparound service is a highly visible and compelling approach for working with the youth and those with intensive needs. It provides a platform through which service provider teams converge to plan, create and implement strategies to meet or achieve… Continue Reading...

Federal Policy on Afordable Care Act

frontlines. They suffer mental problems like the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, aggression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. This challenge is further compounded by the lack of mental health providers and the necessities related to the VA benefits. The veterans challenge is not recent but has been around for many decades yet has not been effectively resolved. The Affordable Care Act was crafted purposefully to help more Americans, especially those of lower economic standards, and expose them to greater accessibility to affordable health insurance. This policy is meant to enhance the quality of health care and health insurance, as it diminishes the health care… Continue Reading...

Social Justice

that never got resolved? Veterans go through different mental problems, which consists of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, aggression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. In fact, in accordance to the Institute of Medicine (2013), statistics indicate that almost half of veterans go through these problems. Deficiency of mental health providers is one of the key factors that encumber access to mental healthcare by veterans. Accessibility to mental healthcare by veterans is also hampered by the necessities related with VA benefits. To obtain VA health benefits, veterans are required to have either an honorable or general discharge (APHA, 2014). It is imperative to note that this is not a new problem… Continue Reading...

Veterans Mental Health Services

Veterans experience a variety of mental health problems, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, aggression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia (Wooten, 2015). More specifically, statistics indicate that up to 50% of veterans experience PTSD (Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2013). These problems often stem from exposure to combat. Mental health problems among veteran are further compounded by other problems such as financial difficulties, joblessness, marriage problems, social isolation, and homelessness (Smith et al., 2017). These problems are major risk factors for suicide and substance abuse. Indeed, approximately 22 veterans commit suicide every day (American Public Health Association [APHA], 2014). This paper focuses on this social justice problem,… Continue Reading...

sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Bipolar Disorder" (2014, March 14) Retrieved May 16, 2024, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/bipolar-disorder-185023

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Bipolar Disorder" 14 March 2014. Web.16 May. 2024. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/bipolar-disorder-185023>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Bipolar Disorder", 14 March 2014, Accessed.16 May. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/bipolar-disorder-185023
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example