Bipolar Disorder And Mental Disorders

Bipolar Disorder is a brain disorder that is characterized by abnormal changes in mood, energy and activity levels (“National Institute of Mental Health”). Manic-depressive illness is also another name that bipolar disorder is commonly referred to as (“National Institute of Mental Health”). This disorder has four basic types including, bipolar I, bipolar II, cyclothymic, and any other which do not perfectly fit the first three. All four of the types have episodes of extreme highs, manic periods, and extreme lows, depressive periods. Symptoms can range greatly and depend on what type of episode the affected is having. Manic episodes can include, but are not limited to: having extraordinarily high amounts of energy, activity,

People with bipolar I disorder have full manic and major depressive episodes. Most of them experience an alternation of the episodes; for example, weeks of mania may be followed by a period of wellness, followed, in turn, by an episode of depression. Some, however, have mixed episodes, in which they display both manic and depressive symptoms within the same episode—for example, having racing thoughts amidst feelings of extreme sadness. In bipolar II disorder, hypomanic—that is, mildy manic—episodes alternate with major depressive episodes over the course of time. When a person experiences numerous periods of hypomanic symptoms and mild depressive symptoms, but not full-blown episodes, DSM-5 assigns a diagnosis of cyclothymic disorder. The symptoms of this milder form of bipolar disorder continue for two or more years, interrupted occasionally by normal moods that may last for only days or weeks.

A mild form of bipolar disorder called Cyclothymia involves less severe mood swings. People with this form alternate between hypomania and mild depression.

Bipolar disorder most commonly develops in a person’s early adult or late teen years. According to the article, What Is Bipolar Disorder, at least half of all bipolar cases start before a person reaches the young age of twenty-five. There are four main types of bipolar: Bipolar 1 Disorder, Bipolar 2 Disorder, Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, and then there is Cyclothymic Disorder. Bipolar 1 Disorder is easily defined by manic or mixed episodes occurring at a minimum of seven days and then depressive episodes which can last about two weeks. Sometimes the episodes can be so severe that the person may need to be hospitalized. Bipolar 2 Disorder is described as a pattern of hypomanic and depressive behavior episodes without the full blown manic episodes. Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, also known as BP-NOS, is used as a diagnosis when a person displays symptoms of the illness but does not fit the criteria for a diagnosis of Bipolar 1 or Bipolar 2. Now the Cyclothymia Disorder is a very mild form of Bipolar. There are hypomania and mild depressive episodes for a minimum of two

There are four different types of bipolar disorder. The first is bipolar I. Bipolar I is a severe case of bipolar disorder. Mania can last for a short time, while the depressive stage can last from two weeks or more. The second type is bipolar II. Bipolar II isn’t as severe but it’s a pattern in which there are no full blown mania phases. The third type is bipolar disorder not otherwise specified. This is when you are told you have a bi polar disorder but you don’t show any of the symptoms for bipolar I or II. The last is cyclothymic. Cyclothymic is a very minimum form of bipolar. People with cyclothymia have episodes of hypomania as well as mild depression for at least 2 years (Bipolar Disorder in Adults. (2012, January 1)). This form

The terms ‘manic–depressive illness’ and ‘bipolar disorder’ are comparatively recent, and date back from the 1950s and 1980s respectively. The term ‘bipolar disorder’ (or ‘bipolar affective disorder’) is thought to be less stigmatizing than the older term ‘manic–depressive illness’, and so the former has largely superseded the latter. However, some psychiatrists and some people with bipolar disorder still prefer the term ‘manic–depressive illness’ because they feel that it reflects thenature of the disorder more accurately.

Bipolar disorder has been gaining more and more attention over the last few years. With shootings on the rise, or at least the publicity of them, people are often pointing their fingers at mental diseases including bipolar disorder. An ongoing issue regarding mental illnesses, however, is the population has failed to fully understand what they truly are, the symptoms, and how to treat them.

Bipolar Disorder or manic-depressive disorder is a disorder characterized by highs, manias, and lows, depressions, and can therefore be easily distinguished from unipolar depression, a major depressive disorder in DSM-5, by the presence of manic or hypomanic episodes (Miklowitz & Gitlin, 2014). Bipolar disorder is generally an episodic, lifelong illness with a variable course (American Psychiatric Association, 2010). There are two classifications of bipolar disorder; bipolar I disorder and bipolar II disorder. If the episodes are primarily manic but there has been at least one depressive episode, the diagnosis is bipolar I disorder (Early, 2009). If the episodes are primarily depressed but there has been at least one episode of hypomania, increased mood that is more euphoric than normal but not quite manic, the diagnosis is bipolar II disorder (Early, 2009).

Ms. NS presented with a mood issue that affected many facets of her everyday life. This symptomatology presents the diagnostic possibility for Bipolar Disorders. Her staggering load of classes to keep her occupied while she also maintained extra curricular activities at school seems to be consistent with Criterion A of Manic Episode from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5, APA, 2000). Criterion A for Bipolar Disorders may be demonstrated in a form of irritability, which Ms. NS had been experiencing. In addition, her elevated level of activity is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance, which would constitute Criterion D of Manic Episode. However, Ms. NS did not endorse or

(2000) explained that the prevalence of bipolar spectrum disorder is between 2.6% and 6.5%, which can be compared to the prevalence of drug abuse which is 4.4%. Bipolar can be classified as a spectrum disorder because it forms an umbrella for bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, cyclothymia, and bipolar disorder not otherwise specified. Unfortunately, bipolar spectrum disorders often go undiagnosed and therefore untreated. With that, Hirschfelt et all (2000), emphasizes the importance of recognizing this disorder. With recognition, these individuals can seek intervention for this disorder and decrease its symptoms and its progression. One way to diagnose this disorder is to screen for it by performing a mood disorder questionnaire. The researchers created a one-page, self-report, paper-and-pencil inventory that can be easily evaluated and administered. The questions were derived from the DSM-IV criteria at the time, but have been updated to the newest version’s clinical

Bipolar Disorder is a mental illness, which involves hypomanic episodes, which are changes in someone’s usual mood. Originally, Bipolar Disorder was called manic depression because it does share similar symptoms with people diagnosed with depression. Bipolar Disorder is a severe condition because it can cause mania, which then causes hallucinations and paranoid rage. (Bipolar Disorder) Bipolar Disorder is classified into two categories, bipolar type 1 and bipolar type 2. Bipolar type 2 is more serious because there is more major depression episodes. (Bipolar Disorder) A study done by Revista Brasileria de Psiquitra, shows a higher prevalence of Bipolar Disorder type 1 but overall both are pretty low in the general population. (Clemente)

Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an alternating or shift in moods of elevation and depression. It is also known as manic depression. This mental illness is that brings severe high and low moods, it can cause changes in sleep, energy, thinking, and behavior. “Bi” which means two or alternating between two, explains the two common episodic moods that occur in individuals with this disorder; mania and depression. According to the DSM there are multiple forms of bipolar disorder, coming in four major forms; bipolar I, bipolar II, bipolar disorder and Cyclothymia. Bipolar II which is a “major depressive episodes alternate with hypomanic episodes rather than full manic episodes.”(Barlow et al., 2014). Individual with bipolar I are similar, “except the individual experiences a full manic episode.” (Barlow et al., 2014). Lastly Cyclothymia is just a mild form of bipolar disorder. Mania episodes take into account the high elevated moods; where an individual’s is extremely energetic, excited, may partake in usually activities, for example excessive spending, promiscuity or dangerous behavior. On the other hand, there are depressive episodes, which are mark by similar symptoms as the common disorder of depression, such as extreme sadness, lack of motivation, constant fatigue and irritable. More prevalent in women, although it can occur in children and older adults, this disorder is seen to suddenly develop in ages ranging from 18 to 24. Although similar men and