Bipolar Disorder Essay

“Bipolar disorder, also commonly known as manic depression, is defined as a serious mental illness in which common emotions become intensely and often unpredictably magnified. Individuals with bipolar disorder can quickly alternate from extremes of happiness, energy and clarity to sadness, fatigue and confusion. All people with bipolar disorder have manic episodes abnormally elevated or irritable moods that last at least a week and impair functioning. But not all become depressed ” (American Psychological Association, 2015). Bipolar disorder can vary in each individual. The symptoms fluctuate in pattern, severity and rate of recurrence. Some people are more susceptible to either mania or depression, while others change proportionately between the two types of episodes. Some have frequent mood disruptions, while others live through a few throughout their lifetime.

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder known for severe persistent mood instabilities between mania and depression, . It causes unusual changes in mood, energy, and activity levels which makes ability to perform daily tasks very hard. (Concepts Advisory Panel [CAP], 2015). BPD affects more than 2.3 million adult Americans, or 1% of the population. (Guo, Patel, Li, & Keck 2010). There are four basic types of bipolar spectrum; All of them involve clear change in the mood energy, and activity levels (CAP,2015). These mood incidences’ ranges from periods of extremely high and energized behavior known as Manic episodes to very sad, or hopeless periods known as depressive episodes. Bipolar I disorder, the client has at least one episode of manic followed by major depression. Bipolar II disorder, the client has one or more hypomanic and major depressive episodes, the other not so severe and less diagnoses type of Bipolar is chronic mood disorder that lasts more two years with combination of hypomania and dysthymia. (CAP,2015). This paper will go into, Bipolar I, Manic episodes, the pathophysiology, Sign and symptoms, treatments, comorbidity, nursing intervention and nursing and patient therapeutic relationship.

A mixed episode, also known as a dysphoric manic episode, is a combination of depressive and manic symptoms, such as agitation, change in appetite, difficulty sleeping, and suicidal thinking. Severe depression or agitation in this state can also be accompanied by symptoms of psychosis. These symptoms include delusions and hallucinations. Bipolar individuals often describe these episodes as ‘sad mania.' This episode is the one most commonly seen in children. Though not uncommon, mixed episodes are not widely recognized. Studies show that only 40 percent of people who have both manic symptoms and a sufficient number of depressive symptoms are diagnosed as being in a mixed depressive and manic state. Studies have also shown that suicidal thoughts are greatly increased in people while in a mixed state. Its treatment has not been

There are medications that can be prescribed, that can help control the disease, and let people affected lead normal lives. Lithium has been the primary treatment of bipolar disorder since its introduction in the 1960's. Its main function is to stabilize the cycling characteristic of bipolar disorder. In four controlled studies by F. K. Goodwin and K. R. Jamison, the overall response rate for bipolar subjects treated with Lithium was 78% (1990). Lithium is also the primary drug used for long- term maintenance of bipolar disorder. In a majority of bipolar patients, it lessens the duration, frequency, and severity of the episodes of both mania and depression. Unfortunately,

Medical treatment with the use of drugs is so important when treating those who suffer from bipolar disorder, because its causes can be predicted to begin at the neuron level. One of these treatments is commonly known as Lithium or Lithium Carbonate.

Bipolar disorder has become more prevalent in the United States, particularly Bipolar Disorder II, which accounts for 30-50% of patients with depression (Thomas & Hersen, 2002). Historically bipolar was known as manic depression (Thomas & Hersen, 2002). According to National Institute of Mental Health (n. d.) “Most scientists agree that there is no single cause, rather many factors that act together to produce the illness or increase the risk” (NIMH, n. d.) Some of those factors can be family, workplace, and environmental stressors along with some precipitants such as: history of past suicide, medical issues, interpersonal conflicts, disputes, job related failure (Thomas & Hersen, 2002). On the other hand, DSM IV categorizes bipolar according to severity, duration, and quality of presenting manic symptoms (Thomas & Hersen, 2002). Its believed that the onset of Bipolar diagnosis is mid 20’s (NIMH, n. d.).

Bipolar disorder is a very serious disabling illness, with its extreme mood swings from depression to mania. Bipolar used to be called manic depressive disorder. Bipolar disorder is very serious and can cause risky behavior, even suicidal tendencies. Some patients are frequently underdiagnosed, with some individuals living 8 to 10 years before obtaining proper treatment (Varcarolis, 2009). It can be treated with therapy and medication, but if not treated it can lead to, damaged relationships, social life and careers. Treatment for bipolar disorder most often includes a combination of a stabilizing drugs and psychotherapy. Although drug treatment is primary, ongoing psychotherapy is important to help patients’ better cope with the condition. This illness requires lifetime monitoring.

People who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder are usually on a regimen of mood stabilizers. According to the study published by Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical & Experimental those who suffer from mental illness are regularly prescribed many psychotropic medications, yet to get effective treatment the patient must adhere to the regimen (Bauer et al., 2010). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the daily amount of medications that the patient took was associated with the patient’s self-reported adherence of taking a mood stabilizer (Bauer et al., 2010). The methods used were data collection in which 312 patients with bipolar disorder had to document sleep, mood, and the medications like lithium or valproate that

Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder that is also known as manic depression. The term “bipolar” can be separated to find its definition. Bi- meaning two, and –polar meaning two opposing poles. Signifying the 2 polar opposites of depression and mania. Its first appearance in the American Psychiatrist Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), was in its 3rd revision of 1980. There are three types of Bipolar disorder: bipolar 1, Bipolar 2, and cyclothymic disorder. This disorder is important because everyday many untreated people struggle with it due to a lack of information on this given subject. It 's history, symptoms, and treatments will be discussed in the following pages.

Bipolar disorder, or manic depressive disorder, is a disorder characterized by extreme mood changes. People with this disorder undergo unusual shifts in his or her mood, activity levels, energy and the ability to carry out daily activities (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d.). A person can go from being very outgoing and energetic to feeling irritated and worthless over a period of a few days, months, or even years. People with bipolar disorder experience “mood episodes”, represented by a drastic change in a person’s unusual mood or behavior (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d.). A manic episode he or she may experience is overexcited and overly joyful; however, someone in a

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness affects about 1.2 percent of the U.S. population (8). It is defined by fluctuating states of depression and mania throughout ones life. Those who are depressed may be restless, irritable, have slowed thinking or speech, decreased sexual activity, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, suicidal thoughts as well as other changes. Those in a manic state may have increased activity or energy, more thoughts and faster thinking, grandiose thoughts, decreased sleep and need for sleep, increased sexual activity, elated mood, irritable mood, as well as other symptoms. Mixed state is when both depression and mania are exhibited at the same time in a cycle. Rapid cycling

Bipolar Disorder is a mental illness in which a person’s mood alternates between extreme mania and depression. Bipolar disorder is also called manic-depressive illness. In a related disorder called cyclothymic disorder (sometimes called Bipolar III), a person’s mood alternates between mild depression and mild mania. Some people with cyclothymic disorder later develop full-blown bipolar disorder. Rates of bipolar disorder are similar throughout the world. At least fifteen percent of people with bipolar disorder commit suicide. Bipolar disorder is much less common than depression. Many people with bipolar disorder function normally between episodes. Medications known as “mood stabilizers” are usually prescribed by psychiatrists to

A mixed episode of bipolar disorder exhibits symptoms from mania or hypomania and depression (Lewis 2005). Common signs of a mixed episode include depression combined with agitation, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, distractibility, and racing thoughts. Studies have shown the mixture of high energy and low moods increases the risk of suicide or other forms of personal harm (Berk, Dodd & Malhi 2005). What do you think it would be like if you suffered from some or all of these symptoms?