Bipolar Disorder Essay

These mood episodes include the manic episodes and the depressive episodes. The mood changes of mania include a long period of an overly happy mood and irritability; the behavioral changes are talking quickly, having racing thoughts, being distracted, increasing of activities, being restless, getting little or no sleep, being impulsive, and engaging in high-risk, pleasurable activities or behaviors (NIMH, 2015). The mood changes of the depressive episodes are loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed and a long period of sadness; the behavioral changes are feeling very tired, having trouble with decision making and problem solving, being irritable, changing normal habits, and negative thinking (NIMH, 2015). Sometimes symptoms from both episodes can be present in a person’s current mood episode. This is called a mixed state. In the mixed state, a person can feel agitated, have a change in eating habits, and have suicidal thoughts; they also feel very hopeless and very energized at the same time (NIMH, 2015). About ten percent of people have at least four mood episodes every year which is called rapid cycling bipolar disorder (Schacter el at.,

There are four types of mood episodes in bipolar disorder: mania, hypomania, depression, and mixed episodes. Each mood episode comes with a series of symptoms. In the manic phase of bipolar disorder, feelings of increased energy and extreme happiness are the most common. People who are experiencing a manic episode often cannot stop talking, their talking is fast and very hard to understand, they sleep very little, and are very hyperactive. They feel they are invincible and can do anything in the world. Hypomania is a less severe type of mania.

In my personal life I have only distantly been affected from a case of bipolar disorder (BD). In high school, a classmate of mine had a mother who suffered from bipolar disorder and we as a class only found out about it when she committed suicide. I never really understood bipolar disorder before then, and afterwards I only understood it as the mother being very confused and constantly unhappy. In my undergraduate years and now in my beginning graduate career, I am solidifying my understanding of bipolar disorder. I think that by the accounts in the articles from Inder et al (2008) and Rusner et al (2009), as well as the videos “Sweethearts” and “Rapid Cycling” it is difficult even for those with bipolar disorder to fully understand their own condition.

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.

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a common, recurrent, and debilitating mood disorder which causes extreme shifts in energy and mood. The word bipolar indicates the two main polar extremes which a person with the disorder experiences. According to NIMH, a branch of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that oversees neurological and psychological research, this disorder affects about 2.3 million adults in the United States and about 1.2 percent of the population worldwide. The first signs of this disorder usually appear in adolescence and early adulthood, with cases seldom occuring in childhood. No findings have been made to indicate a difference in frequency among those of differing race or ethnicity. Bipolar

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).

This research was conducted to determine the impact of pharmacological treatment and whether electroconvulsive therapy as an alternative to patients whose suicidal symptoms did not improve with the use of medication treatment. During this experiment, researchers observed if there were any pharmacotherapy treatments that increased the risk for rehospitalization or suicide with the use of electroconvulsive therapy. Researchers measured factors such as: rehospitalization of patients, suicide attempts, or death. In total, the study showed the effectiveness of ECT alone and ECT along with pharmacotherapy on patients that have not shown effect with pharmacotherapy itself.

Nearly everyone has felt depressed at some point in their life. We all experience episodes of happiness and depression. It is normal for a person’s disposition to fluctuate somewhat when a stressful or complicated situation occurs. However, some people experience feelings of apprehension or despair or experience mood swings that are so rigorous and overpowering that they impede with an individual’s relationships, job performance, and overall daily functioning. In cases of severe physical impairment, people may be experiencing bipolar disorder.

Twin studies provide evidence that bipolar disorder is linked to genetic component. A research study published in the Epidemiology for Behavioral Neurosciences asserts that “twin studies demonstrated that there are strong genetic factors involved in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder, which also influence white matter, which in turn is involved in brain connectivity” (Squarcina, Fagnani, Bellani, Altamura, & Brambilla, 2016). From the above research, it is obvious that there is correlation between bipolar disorders and genetic factors.

As stated in the Mental Health Digest, “Bipolar disorder is difficult to diagnose, and it often gets confused with other mental illnesses. Because mania is the hallmark of bipolar disorder, the depressive episodes sometimes get overlooked”(Bipolar Disorder). The Fifth Edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders states “A distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood and abnormally and persistently increased goal-directed activity or energy, lasting at least 1 week and present most of the day, nearly every day (or any duration if hospitalization is necessary)”(DSM-IV-2006). It also states that a depressive episode is one “The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning”(DSM-IV). Joseph Biederman,

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 also known as Manic Depressive Illness involves outstanding mood swings. The individual has periods of depression, and periods when they feel either unusually good or pressured and irritable. It affects 1-2% of the population. Genetics plays a significant role. About 15% of children with one bipolar parent develop the disorder.

All night, Hearing voices telling me that I should get some sleep, because tomorrow might be good for something. Hold on, I'm feeling like I'm headed for a breakdown, I don't know why. I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell. I know, right now you can't tell, but stay awhile and maybe then you'll see a different side of me. –Matchbox 20, Unwell (Thomas, 2003)

Hypomania is a more controlled form of mania. Consumers in a hypomanic state feel joyful, spirited, and dynamic, nevertheless they are able to continue with their day-to-day lives without losing touch with reality (Craighead & Nemeroff 2001).