Bipolar Disorder Essay Research Paper Bipolar DisorderWellness

Bipolar Disorder Essay, Research Paper

Bipolar Disorder:Wellness Paper

The aspect of bipolar disorder has been a mystery since

the 16th century. It was rumored that Vincent Van Gough

suffered from bipolar disorder. There is a large group of

people suffering from this disorder, however there are no

causes or cures for it. Bipolar disorder impairs one.s

ability to obtain and sustain social and occupational

success. The journey for even a cause will continue for

many years to come. Affective disorders are characterized

by a depressed mood, an elevated mood or an alternation of

depressed and elevated moods. The basic term for the

manic-depressive illness is Bipolar disorder. There are

milder and heavier forms of each. A patient can be placed

in two different categories of this disorder: dysthymic

disorder and cyclothymic disorder depending on how strong

the symptoms are with each individual patient. .The use of

the term primary affective disorder refers to the

individuals who had no previous psychiatric disorders or

else only episodes of mania or depression. Secondary

affective disorder refers to patients with preexisting

psychiatric illness other than depression or mania.

(Goodwin, Guze. 1989, p.7 ).

Bipolar affective disorder affects around 1% or three

million people in the United States. Both males and females

can become a victim of this disorder. .Bipolar disorder

involves episodes of mania and depression. The manic

episodes are characterized by elevated or irritable mood,

increased energy, decreased need for sleep, poor judgment

and insight, and often reckless or irresponsible behavior.

(Hollandsworth, Jr. 1990 ).

These episodes can alternate with heavy depressions

characterized with complete sadness with almost an inability

to move, hopelessness, and agitation in appetite, sleep and

makes is hard to concentrate while driving.

.Bipolar disorder is diagnosed if an episode of mania occurs

whether depression has been diagnosed or not. (Goodwin,

Guze, 1989, p 11). The common symptoms for a manic

depressive episode consist of elated, expansive, irritable

or hyperactive mood. Their speech becomes hard to

understand, they have ideas racing through their head, they

have incredibly high self esteem, they rarely feel tired and

they are often involved in activities that could possibly

harm them. .Rarest symptoms were periods of loss of all

interest and retardation or agitation. (Weisman, 1991).

As the National Depressive and Manic Depressive

Association (MDMDA) has demonstrated, bipolar disorder can

participate in developmental delays, marital and family

problems, loss of jobs and an inability to keep a steady

income. Many bipolar patients report that the depressions

are longer and come more frequent when the individual gets

older. Schizophrenia has commonly been diagnosed to

patients suffering from bipolar and can be misdiagnosed for

most of their lives. The speech patterns help doctors to see

a difference between the two disorders. .The first signs or

symptoms of Bipolar disorder usually occur between the ages

of 20 and 30 years of age, and then are seen again in women

in their 40.s. A typical bipolar patient will most likely

experience eight to ten episodes in their lifetime. However,

there are those who have rapid cycling and can experience

more episodes of mania and depression that succeed each

other without a period of remission. (DSM III-R). The three

stages of mania begin with hypomania, this is where the

patients are often very energetic , hyper and assertive. The

hypomania state has shown doctors that a person suffering

from bipolar almost feels addicted to their mania.

Hypomania progresses into mania as the transition is marked

by loss of judgment. Often, a paranoid or irritable

character begins to manifest. The third stage of mania is

becomes clear when the patient experiences delusions with

often paranoid themes. Speech is generally rapid and

behavior manifests with hyperactivity and sometimes

assaultiveness.

When both manic and depressive symptoms occur at the

same time it is called a mixed episode. These people are a

special risk because of the combination of hopelessness,

agitation and anxiety make them feel like they “could jump

out of their skin”(Hirschfeld, 1995). Up to 50% of all

patients with mania have a mixture of depressed moods.

Patients report feeling very dysphoric, depressed and

unhappy yet exhibit the energy associated with mania. Rapid

cycling mania is another symptom of bipolar disorder. Mania

may be present with four or more distinct episodes within a

12 month period. There is now evidence to suggest that

sometimes rapid cycling may be a transient m

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