Disadvantages Of Bipolar Disorder

Scientist has also founded that bipolar disorder is also hereditary by adoption studies. This study will show if the biological parent or sibling from the adoptee is ill even if he or she has not grown up in the same environment. Adoption studies has shown that the blood relatives has the same mood swing rate as the adoptee, therefore, leads that genetics plays an important role to bipolar disorder. Another theory is, mood swings may be caused from too much stress or major life changes along with, one’s sleep

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,

In a question and answer on the “Myths and Realities about Bipolar Disorder” Dr. Youngstrom a professor of psychology/psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and acting director of the Center of Excellence for Research and Treatment of Bipolar Disorder says, “bipolar disorder is about a third as common as depression and less than half as common as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in youths, but about twice as common as autistic spectrum disorders (Youngstrom, 2012).” In the United States about three percent or about five point seven

Despite the similarities, there are more common symptoms in bipolar depression than it is in regular depression. For example, bipolar depression has individuals feeling guilty, hopeless, sad, empty, unpredictable mood swings, and feelings of restlessness. People with bipolar depression also tend to move very slow, gain weight, and sleep a lot (Hatchett). On the other hand the hypomania state has led observers to feel that bipolar patients are "addicted" to their mania. Paranoia or irritable characteristics begin to manifest in this stage. Hyperactive behavior can sometimes lead to violence and speech becomes very rapid (Hirschfeld, 1995). A mixed episode is when you have both manic and depressive symptoms at the same time. According to Hirschfield, “Those afflicted are a special risk because there is a combination of hopelessness, agitation, and anxiety that makes them feel like they,” “could jump out of their skin” (Hirschfeld, 1995). Up to 50% of all patients with mania have a mixture of depressed moods. This episode is considered very dangerous because individuals feel as if they could commit suicide.

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

Several of the mania symptoms include increased energy, restlessness, euphoric mood, extreme irritability, poor concentration, sleeplessness, abuse of drugs, and heightened sense of self-importance. Depressive symptoms include sad mood, hopelessness and pessimism, feeling of helplessness, loss of interest in activities, fatigue, sleeplessness or sleeping too much, change in appetite, thoughts of death or suicide. These two episodes go back and forth between normal moods. Mood episodes with symptoms of both manic and depressive symptoms are called episodes with mixed features. While experiencing a mixed episode, a person’s state of mind contradicts itself while he may feel sad and hopeless but extremely energized at the same time

Genetic: Bipolar disorder tends to run in families, so researchers believe there is a genetic predisposition for the disorder. Scientists also are exploring the presence of abnormalities on specific genes.

Between the ages 16-24, approximately 3.2% of males and 3.6% females have had bipolar disorder.

There are several different categories of symptoms when dealing with bipolar disorder; there are psychotic symptoms, manic symptoms, cognitive symptoms, and depression symptoms. Figure 2, by Terence Ketter, has a list of some of the more common symptoms from each category, and I will be breaking down the categories into a thorough list of the most common symptoms.

Scientist studying bipolar disorder don't really know what causes this illness. Researchers state that if a parent or sibling have bipolar disorder it is passed down in genes to their children. Another one of the causes might be having abnormal brain structure and brain function. It is also said that if the child or adult have anxiety problems they are more likely to develop this disorder. There

"because previous generations were less likely to diagnose bipolar disorder, affected family members may have ben written off as the "crazy Auntie", with troubling behaviors such as alcoholism, frequent periods of unemployment, dysfunctional personal relationships, bankruptcies or imprisonment.

After watching the PBS Frontline films, I wanted to see what information there is about bipolar and what do people think cause it. What I found was that doctors do not really know what causes it, but they do believe that it seems to run in families and how it could partly be caused by the brain circuits and neurotransmitters having problems. There are three chemicals in the brain, which are noradrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine, that are involved with the function of the body and the brain (Webmd). When anyone of these are damaged it can result in the person having mental or mood disorders. There have been studies that show that people who have certain genes can get bipolar disorder and pass them on to their family. There has also been research

Those who are researching this illness believe that it had a lot to do with genetics but that there are also many other factors involved. In an example by the National Institute of Mental Health, they found that even if there is a pair of identical twins and one develops bipolar disorder the other twin might never develop it.