Mental Illness Essay

Key points: There were several key points described in this chapter that validated psychosocial treatments. This analysis will only focus on the discussion of the research study that focused on the efficacy of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for bipolar affective disorder. This chapter discussed a study of twenty-eight people (Cochran, 1984) who received outpatient CBT for a bipolar disorder diagnosis. The study was designed to change the way half of the participants (14) would think and behave so that they would better comply with their medication regime. Fourteen participants received six weekly CBT sessions for one hour, in addition to pharmacological interventions. The other

For an episode to be categorized as manic, the patients’ mood has been irritable or abnormally elevated for at least 1 week. A person must also exhibit at least 3 of the following symptoms (4 if the mood is only irritable): extreme feelings of personal greatness; a decreased need for sleep, marked talkativeness; distractibility; extreme focus on a goal-directed activity; reports of ‘racing’ thoughts or a flight of ideas; or excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (i.e. sexual indiscretions or unintelligent business investments). As in the criteria for a depressed episode, the DSM-IV specifies that these symptoms should not be better explained as being a side effect of a drug or illness to qualify as a manic episode. These symptoms must interfere with the person’s normal functioning and must not meet the criteria for a mixed episode. As with adults, childhood-onset bipolar disorder has many faces. Children with Bipolar I Disorder have episodes of mania and episodes of depression, sometimes there are long periods of normal moods between episodes. Adults usually tend to have more depressed episodes than manic episodes. However, some children will have chronic mania (symptoms of mania lasting for long periods of time or marked by frequent recurrence) and seldom experience a depressed episode.

Living with a person who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, or even being a family member who has a genuine concern for this individual’s well-being is a strenuous process. Learning how to recognize and handle disruptive behavior, understanding the symptoms, supporting the individual through potential treatment or recovery periods and assessing the overall situation in the most effective manner is a long-term and constant commitment. Thus, family members, particularly those who take on the role of caregiver are often impacted as severely, if not more so than the person who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, at least on the surface. Bipolar disorder and

Bipolar disorder is typically a condition that affects people in their late teens and early adulthood. It is usually not thought to affect a child but it is something that, if present at a young age, can seriously affect the way a child grows up. Bipolar disorder affects every aspect of a person’s life and is not as understood as it should be. Researchers are still looking for the cause of this illness and how it can be treated but overall it is a condition that many people are undereducated on and that is something I’m hoping this paper might be able to change for some.

            Before researching this topic, I used to think that Bipolar Disorder was a very rare mental illness and in most cases, a misdiagnoses. There are many misconceptions about Bipolar Disorder and mental illness as a whole. Bipolar Disorder has become an epidemic in America and affects nearly everyone in some way. The term Bipolar is increasingly being misused to describe someone having a bad day or being excessively happy. Over the past generation, Bipolar has began to be used as an adjective to describe how people are feeling or acting.  Most of us know someone who either has Bipolar Disorder or someone affected by it. The purpose of this essay is to examine Bipolar Disorder and determine the best way for individuals, along with their loved one’s to manage the disorder. This will hopefully help people understand what a friend or family member is going through and even help an individual struggling with Bipolar Disorder. Better yet, it could inspire others to research and spread ideas to someday cure Bipolar Disorder. Citizens can call upon their elected officials to increase access to mental health services (counseling, therapy, medications) for people diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and support the families that are affected.

The illness can appear at a rate of one in 200 children and will more likely affect them when a parent has the disorder. (Hotline Information) Children’s moods are hard to read, causing more difficulty diagnosing it. The mood swings do not last as long as they do in adulthood, at times it can even fluctuate from hour to hour. (Cognitive Flexibility and Performance in Children and Adolescents with Threshold and Subthreshold Bipolar Disorder) Distinguishing the disorder from ADHD makes things even more complex, being as the symptoms are very similar. (Bipolar Disorder in Children) Giving children medication for this disorder is not too

“Up to one-third of the 3.4 million children and adolescents with depression in the United States may actually be experiencing the early onset of bipolar disorder.”, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The battle with bipolar disorder has a severe impact on the life of adolescents resulting in the need for medication. Medication is needed for adolescents with bipolar disorder due to the fact is has negative impact on social life, academics, and on physical health.Bipolar disorder is classified as a mood disorder in which people experience series of “manic highs” and “depressed low”.

Since the 1990s, the amount of children who are diagnosed with a form of bipolar disorder have rocketed sky high. Children, like adults can possibly have neurological issues in the brain that does not allow them to function properly. These children are seen as hyperactive, aggressive people who are not able to control themselves mentally and emotionally. They can be described as a “ticking time bomb”, and people having to walk on eggshells around them, not knowing if it is going to be the euphoric or the depressed child, they are going to be dealing with. In this literature review, the following topics will be mentioned: the description of what bipolar disorder is; the types of bipolar disorders; the child’s state of mind in the disorder; the causes of bipolar disorder; The DSM-V criteria for diagnosing Bipolar disorder; and the treatment of the disorder.

The clinician should realize that no treatment, medication or otherwise, is apanacea and that episodes may emerge or “break through.” This does not mean thattreatment is ineffective. The patient should be informed that mood variation, includingbreakthrough episodes, can emerge and that this requires collaboration among patient,family, psychotherapist, and psychopharmacologist to catch a phase early and to inter-vene effectively. Medication compliance is increased by more expectations by the patientof positive outcome and with a stronger therapeutic alliance with the prescribing doctor(Gaudiano & Miller, 2006). Each of the psychological treatments described here providesadditional support to patients for the importance of medication.Seventh, although there is a strong genetic component to bipolar disorder, there isconsiderable evidence that life events, coping skills, and family environment contributeto the expression of manic and depressive disorders. Bipolar disorder is not only exacer-bated by negative life events (e.g., loss of job or relationship) but also may cause theselife

Because bipolar disorders are generally recurrent, maintenance treatment is usually needed. This is especially true when there have been multiple episodes, a clear family history of bipolar disorder or symptom onset before age 18. Effective maintenance

For many years, Bipolar Disorder (BP) has played a major role in peoples’ everyday lives. According to the DSM-5, this particular disorder is a striking period of unusually and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, alternating with or accompanied by one more major depressive episodes. I confess, my best-friend was affected by this problem growing up. This problem arose when I learned that my best-friend suffered from symptoms that included agitation, sleeplessness, pressured speech, racing thoughts, and sexual disinhibition. Growing up, it was rather difficult to see my friend suffer from this disorder because it has hindered her everyday life. A study done showed that bipolar diagnoses are also on the rise among children and

Bipolar disorder is manic depressive illness a disorder in which a person alternates between the hopelessness and lethargy of depression and the overexcited state of mania(macmillan). There is an increase in prevalence over recent years of children at an early age that have been diagnosed with the with bipolar disorder. There is a switch in being in this depressive state then rapidly switching over to a manic state. This disorder to known to shift moods, emotions, and behavior throughout the day for children, but what about the parents? Are the parents of the children with the disorder suffering as well as the children, especially the ones who care primarily for the children without the basic resources or help they need? There is shown a lack of help from the system, such as relatives, educators and health professionals, creating these antisocials relation between the parents and the system of people. In the article “Crying Alone With My Child” Parenting A School Child Diagnosed With Bipolar Disorder, there is a discussion and study displaying that parents are infact experiencing health implications as well as mental problems with caring primarily for their children, without the necessary help, as well as giving an answer that can decrease these problems.

While reading these articles I noticed many of them had similar themes. One of the common themes throughout these articles is the need to continuously do more research and provide more resources for the caretakers. Another recurring topic in the articles was the importance family relationships have on the individual with bipolar disorder and their outcomes with treatment, along with how these interactions affect the other members of the family. A strength that was present in each article was the depth of detail presented in each study; this description will make it easier to replicate the studies. These commonalities throughout the articles may be