Ellen would be Diagnosed with the Bipolar subtype, Bipolar ll. Bipolar II is characterized by major depressive episodes alternating with hypomanic episodes. This is due to Ellen describing having severe depression as well as panic attacks. Ellen experiences months of being in a major depressed state and has described herself as being unhappy through most of her life, with no long periods of feeling good. She also described having many episodes of abnormally elevated moods that have also lasted for several months. During these moods she would sleep very little and have racing thoughts. These moods are described as hypomanic episodes. Another identifying attribute is that patients with Bipolar experience ongoing impairments in social, occupational, and familial functioning. This is apparent in Ellen who struggled in relationships, did not finish her necessary tasks to receive her PhD, and has struggled to keep a job longer than a year or two.…
Bipolar disorder which is also known as the maniac depressive disorder, it is a brain condition that causes strange turns in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day to day tasks. Bipolar disorders are one of the oldest known psychological illnesses to a mankind. Research reveals some mention of the symptoms in early medical records. It was first noticed as far back as the second century,…
Although there are several domains in psychology associated with bipolar disorder, cognitive dysfunction has been the leading factor causing bipolar disorder. Mainly because changes in cognitive functions onset mood symptoms in people who are higher risks of suffering from Bipolar 1 disorder (Eric, Halari, Cheng, Leung, & Young, 2013). Other aspects of psychological functions that cause bipolar 1 disorder include the theory of mind, empathy, emotion comprehension, and autobiographical memory. However, these aspects have been understudied, and there is no comprehensive and detailed information explaining the relationship between them and bipolar 1 disorder. In most cases, clinicians argue that psychological and environmental factors work together to trigger stress and emotional stability which later result to bipolar disorder. It is, however, essential to recognize, while these factors are responsible for this form of the disorder, every individual reacts differently when subjected to these conditions. Therefore, an individual should visit a doctor for a…
There are about 5.7 million of American adults who suffer from manic-depression illness. Manic-depression is another name for bipolar. What is bipolar disorder? Bipolar disorder is a disorder in which the brain experience manic high (enthusiastic) and low (depression). The nonfiction story "An Unquiet Mind: Memoir of Mood and Madness" relates to bipolar disorder and influence of society.…
The etiology of Bipolar disorder has been researched and documented for many years and has many theories and perspectives. Causative factors include psychodynamic, existential, cognitive behavioral and developmental and complex biologic and genetic factors (Antai-Otong, 2008). Signs and Symptoms (s/s) of Bipolar…
There is a distinct difference between bipolar and unipolar disorder, although both disorders may be due to a chemical imbalance in the brain, head injuries or genetically passed down through the gene pool, each of these disorders have different symptoms, characteristics, and require different treatments. However, there are some things both of these disorders have in common, which are the fact that they both cause depression, anxieties, and abnormal sleep patterns. Unipolar disorder is also known as ‘clinical’ depression or ‘major’ depression, whereas bipolar disorder is known as ‘manic’ depression. The word ‘bipolar’ represents the two opposite sides of both extremes, in other words, a person who has the bipolar disorder can be extremely depressed and feel very low and down with themselves and life or feel extremely happy, and have the feeling of being on top of the world. The actual cause of bipolar disorder is unknown. However, researchers think that it is due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. The cause of unipolar is unknown as well, however researchers suspect that this disorder may be related to the gene pool, as well as a chemical imbalance in the brain. Other factors may include; stress, biochemical factors: higher levels of the stress cortisol or a lack of melatonin or lower levels of norepinephrine and serotonin chemicals in the brains of people who suffer with depression.…
Bipolar Disorder is a complex psychiatric condition, formally referred to as Manic Depression. Within this disorder, you will find abnormally elevated levels of mood, as well as depressive episodes. The elevated moods are known as “mania”, or in milder cases, “hypomania”. Some people with this diagnosed disease also experience periods of “mixed episodes”, in which they exhibit features of mania and depression at the same time. Usually, these episodes are separated by periods of “normal” mood, but in some cases may rapidly alternate, known as rapid cycling. The disorder has been subdivided into groups within the diagnosis known as Bipolar I, Bipolar II, and Cyclothymia. Each have differing levels of severity in moods and effects on people.…
Outside these normal, healthy mood changes exists a world in which a small percentage of U.S. adults experience clinical depression. Clinical depression is a mental illness that is extreme enough that a person cannot function well in their daily lives. It may even cause the individual to be suicidal. Unipolar depression is the term ascribed to this condition (Comer, 2011). Symptoms of this illness are similar to those of mood disorder. The mood disorder is called bipolar disorder. In this assignment, I will compare causes, symptoms and treatments of these two illnesses.…
This article examines the individual components of bipolar disorder in children and the behaviors that can escalate as a result of misdiagnosis and treatment. The brain/behavior relationship in bipolar disorders can be affected by genetics, developmental failure, or environmental influences, which can cause an onset of dramatic mood swings and dysfunctional behavior. School is often the site where mental health disorders are observed when comparing behaviors with other children. Assessing the emotional, academic, and health needs of a student with a bipolar disorder is a critical step in designing effective interventions and school accommodations. Without appropriate medical, psychological, pharmaceutical, and academic interventions, a child is at risk for uncontrolled mania, depression, substance abuse, or suicide. The school nurse is part of the multidisciplinary team and plays a key role in facilitating case management to potentially reverse this possible negative trajectory. Successful case management provides children with bipolar disorder the opportunity to reach their academic potential.…
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention argue that psychological diseases such as bipolar disorder cause a lot of suffering to most people across the globe. As Shamsaei, Khan, & Vanaki et al (2013) notes, the condition is characterized by different periods of relapses from mania, high self-esteem, lack of sleep and depression, which might turn to be chronic. The lifetime prevalence of this condition ranges between 2 and 4 percent. Shamsaei, Khan, & Vanaki et al argues that bipolar disorder is one of the conditions that disables people across the globe and…
There are many people who live their daily lives and do not realize they have a bipolar disorder. There are three…
Bipolar is a disorder in the brain that causes mood shifts. The disorder can be developed in a person’s life in their early teens or early adulthood. Bipolar has been diagnosed in a person no later than the age of 25. Many people go years suffering from bipolar before they are diagnosed and treated. Bipolar does not only affect moods but, your energy level, judgment, memory, concentration, appetite, sleep patterns, sex drive, and self-esteem. Many doctors believe bipolar cases or links to anxiety, substance abuse, and health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, migraines, and high blood pressure. . Discovery of bipolar has been made to run in family. “Researchers are looking for genes that may increase a person 's chance of developing the illness.” (HS)…
There are many mental illnesses that people are suffering from on a day to day basis. These disorders make people incapable of being able to function properly in life on a daily base. One major disorder is known as Bipolar disorder, which is also known as manic-depressive illness. Bipolar disorder affects men and women equally. It usually starts between ages 15 - 25. The exact cause is unknown, but it occurs more often in relatives of people with bipolar disorder (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth). Bi-polar disorder is a brain disorder that causes abnormal changes in the mood, energy, activity levels, and the inability to carry out day-to-day tasks. The symptoms of bipolar disorder can be very severe. Bipolar disorder symptoms can cause damaged relationships, lack of performance at school and/or work, and may even cause a person to want to kill themselves. Many people fail to realize that this disorder can be treated, and people can live a full and manageable lifestyle. It has been estimated that there are more than 50 million Americans living with a form of mental disorder. But being able to get the right treatment at the immediate time can help save the life of the individual.…
Bipolar disorder is a medical illness that causes extreme shifts in mood, energy and functioning. These changes can be subtle or dramatic and vary greatly over a persons’ life. Bipolar disorder affects men and women equally and usually starts between the ages of 15-25 years old. In this paper, I will explain the different types of bipolar disorder and some of the symptoms of each, the lifestyle of the affected person, interventions and restraining forces.…
Mitchell, P.B. & Malhi, G.S. (2004). Bipolar disorders. International Journal of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, 6(6), Retrieved from interscience.wiley.com…