DEFINITION
Bipolar Disorder is a mental disorder which is characterized by disruptive mood swings with episodes of mania or depression. Normally, people with Bipolar Disorder have problems with elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with some people having more depressive episodes.
CAUSES
There is a generic component to Bipolar Disorder. Genetic factors can determine how a person’s body reacts to sickness. However, genetics alone cannot be the only determining factor to decide whether a person will be contact the mental disorder. When a person is from a family with a history of mental disorder, it is not always the case that the patient has a high probability of being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.
The mostly likely trigger of Bipolar Disorder is environmental stress such as a life changing event. There is evidence to suggest different individual has different abilities to handle their mental health to prevent this mental disorder from developing. Other outside factors include the patients’ abuse of medications and illegal drugs to cause the distortion of brain chemicals.
Research has shown that people with Bipolar Disorder differ somewhat in the structure of their brains and the activation of the areas in their brains. There are a variety of techniques that can help doctors to diagnose the biochemical imbalance in people’s brain such as Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET). When consider the prospect of someone being diagnosed with this disorder, the doctors have to consider the possibility of the co-existent of other mental disorders.
SYMPTOMS
Mania or a manic episode:
- Mood Changes:
- An intensely elevated mood
- Unreasonable irritable mood and agitation level
- Behavioral Changes:
- Excessive talking and being restless
- Setting unrealistic goals and taking on high-risk behavior
Depression or a depressive episode:
- Mood Changes:
- A sustained period of feeling worried
- Drastically reduced level of enthusiasm
- Behavioral Changes:
- Feeling of fatigue or difficulties with brain activities
- Suicide thoughts or suicide attempts
TREATMENTS
The most basic treatment for Bipolar Disorder is medications. There are three categories of medications. The first one is mood stabilizing medications such as Lithium and Valproic acid. The use of mood stabilizers is very dangerous because it may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The second one is atypical antipsychotic medications such as Olanzapine (Zyprexa), Aripiprazole (Abilify), Quetiapine (Seroquel), and Risperidone (Risperdal). The third one is antidepressant medications such as Fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and bupropion (Wellbutrin). A lot of the times, a combination of a variety of medications is necessary for a person to recover but a doctor should be careful of the possible side effects because psychiatric medications are dangerous.
Another method for recovery is psychotherapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapy that helps patients with modifying disruptive thought patterns and behaviors. Family-focused therapy is also helpful for the patients’ recovery where family members try to improve communications with the patients and develop coping strategies to help the patients deal with problems in everyday activities. Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy helps people to engage in more social interactions and develop daily routines to improve the patients’ organizational skills. Psycho-education is usually done for a group of patients normally with family members present. This is a kind of psychotherapy where therapists give out information about different treatment options for mental disorders.
Treatment plans have to be developed for each individual depending on his/her specific case. The therapists have to be licensed and have the required qualifications. Mostly of the time, a psychiatrist is necessary to aid the therapists to treat the patients by prescribing medications and monitoring the patients’ physical and mental health condition.
REFERENCES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder
http://www.cmha.ca/mental-health/understanding-mental-illness/bipolar-disorder/
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml
http://keltymentalhealth.ca/mental-health/disorders/bipolar-disorder#view-tabs-1