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Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, affects nearly 2 million
Americans today (Franklin, Bipolar Depression, 2000). ... Bipolar is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a persons
mood, energy, and ability to function. Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone
goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. ... But there is good news: bipolar
disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives.
Both men and women are at equal risk for this disorder (Ablow, 1993). "It is often not
recognized as a psychological problem, because it is episodic" (Franklin, Bipolar Depression,
2000, pp1). Bipolar Disorder typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood. ... The purpose of this paper is to discuss Bipolar Disorder and the possible
treatments available.
According to the DSM IV, bipolar disorder is divided into three separate disorders.
Bipolar I is marked by mania, while Bipolar II has both recurrent moods of both mania and
depression. Cyclothymic disorder is a two-year cycling between hypomania and periods of
depression that does not include major depression . Bipolar I is further divided into six
subcategories. ... Other criterion used to diagnose Bipolar
Disorder includes the evaluation of mood symptoms. ...
The term bipolar implies two poles which are mania and depression; however, not all
people with bipolar disorder show signs of depression. The term bipolar implies that at some
point, people with bipolar will become depressed (Halgin & Whitbourne, 2000). ... Other signs include: feeling
helpless, guilty, or worthless, they have pessimistic feelings, decreased energy, loss of memory,
restlessness, and persistent thoughts of death (Franklin, Bipolar Depression, 2000).
A manic episode is the opposite of depression and it is not related to substance
abuse or a medical condition (Franklin, Bipolar Disorder p. ...
Hypomania is a state "when the person shows a high level of energy, excessive
moodiness or irritability, and impulsive or reckless behavior" (Franklin, Bipolar Depression
, 2000, pp. ...
There are many different theories that contain their own perspectives on where this
disorder may have come from. ... Bipolar disorder tends to run in families. In families
with one parent that has a mood disorder, the child has a 15 - 30% chance of developing a
disorder, and in families with both parents, the child has between 50% and 75% chance of
developing a disorder (“About Early-Onset Bipolar Disorder, 2002). ... Children with bipolar
are likely to get the first episode of the illness ten years earlier than their parents (Papolos &
Papolos, 1999).
Approximate Word count = 1999
Approximate Pages = 8
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