Bipolar Disorder: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Introduction 

Bipolar disorder, which is also referred to as the manic-depressive disorder, is a psychological disorder that results in unusual shifts of an individual's mood. The topic of bipolar disorder is essential as it addressed a condition that is related to the psychological functioning of an individual. Additionally, the disorder is a recurrent issue in society, considering that most people tend to experience episodes of the condition at some point in their lives. In the United States, approximately 3% of the total population have been affected by the condition. The condition, which is more prevalent among the middle-aged persons, have a significant impact on the day to day activities of an individual. In the entire world, approximately 1% of the total population is affected by the condition. The prevalence rates of the condition between females and males are similar.

Background of the Disorder 

Bipolar disorder is a mental condition that causes an individual to experience episodes of depression and abnormally elevated moods. The elevated moods also referred to as mania causes an individual to experience abnormal and extreme moods, where an individual tends to experience excess happiness or excess sadness. The unusual changes in the moods of individual results in a risk of self-harm and suicide. Majority of the people suffering severe cases of the condition tend to engage in suicidal activities considering their inability to control their moods. According to Grande, Berk, Birmaher (2016), the condition is more prevalent among the young people aged from 25years considering that they face the risk factors associated with the development and worsening of the situation. However, considering that bipolar disorder is a psychological disorder, all people can get diseases when exposed to the risk factors.

Diagnosis 

Because bipolar is a mental disorder, diagnosis may be somewhat difficult considering that the signs and symptoms may be similar to those of other psychological conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders. Another challenge attributed to the diagnosis of the disease is the delay in the development of signs and symptoms. The diagnosis process of the condition capitalizes on self-reported experiences, where an individual describes the symptoms experienced (Whitton, Treadway, & Pizzagalli, 2015). Additionally, the diagnosis relies on the reported behaviour and observable signs that may be portrayed by an individual. The diagnosis processes capitalize on understanding the behavioural history of a patient to understand the primary symptoms that may be associated with bipolar disorder. Assessment and evaluation of the patient is a fundamental aspect that helps the caregivers to engage in a proper diagnosis of the condition focusing on the primary signs and symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms 

Bipolar disorder is characterized by disruptions of an individual's normal moods, causing episodes of depression and elevated mood. The primary symptom associated with the condition entails increased energy levels related to the psychomotor activities. Other signs and symptoms associated with the disorder include increased self-esteem, impulsivity, and rapid speech. The depressive episodes related to the condition present signs and symptoms that portrays impairment in the level of functioning of an individual. The signs and symptoms, in this case, include insomnia, inability to pay attention, and changes in appetite. The signs and symptoms experienced by an individual vary based on the nature of the situation and based on the severity of the condition. An individual with the disorder may experience extreme signs and symptoms, which may vary with time.

Types of the Disorder 

Bipolar disorder is characterized by four different models, which are characterized by the patterns attributed to the episodes of mania and depression in an individual. The first type is the Bipolar I disorder, which is characterized by severe manic symptoms that last for at least seven days. The severity of the signs and symptoms associated with the type of bipolar requires immediate hospitalization to help in the prevention of worsened cases that may result in causing harm to self or other people. The second type is bipolar II disorder, which is characterized by the occurrence of significant episodes of depression (Lehmann & Forester, 2017). The common symptoms associated with the type of bipolar include hypersomnia or insomnia, fatigue, and recurring thoughts of death or suicide. The signs and symptoms, in this case, tend to be milder than those of bipolar I, and are not easily identified.

The third type is the Cyclothymic disorder, which a condition that is characterized by cyclical mood swings. Individuals with the disease do not experience severe mania or hypomania but tend to be generally moody (Whitton, Treadway, & Pizzagalli, 2015). The early symptoms of the condition tend to develop in adolescence where an individual tend to be mood in most times. The individuals with the condition have normal functioning, which helps in carrying on routine activities without the need to seek medical attention. Lack of proper management and treatment measures of the condition results in worsening, which contributes to the development of either bipolar I or bipolar II disorders. Lastly, Bipolar disorder due to another medical or substance abuse disorder is a type of bipolar that does not have a specific pattern associated with the development of signs and symptoms. The patients, in this case, may experience mild maniac symptoms and experience severe hypomanic symptoms.

Prevention 

While considering that researchers have not been able to identify an exact cause for bipolar disorder, prevention has become an uphill challenge for health professionals, as there is no method recommended for the prevention of this disorder. The main problem is trying to find new ways through which to help minimize the risk of exposure for individual patients, as the number of people being diagnosed with this disorder is on a steady rise in different countries around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that although the bipolar disorder cannot be prevented, health professionals are only expected to adopt strategic approaches allowing them to manage the disease (Lehmann & Forester, 2017). The expectation is that any individual diagnosed with bipolar disorder is taken through specific disorder management approaches, as have been recommended by the WHO.

Treatment 

The treatment for bipolar disorder often depends on the severity of the condition for the patient involved. This will determine the approaches that a health care professional may take as part of maximizing efficiency in the treatment consider. However, the condition may be treated through the consideration of therapies, medications, and supportive care. When focusing on the use of medicines, patients suffering from bipolar disorder can be taken through cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as a way of modifying their thoughts, behaviours, and emotions. The use of CBT is seen as being somewhat useful, considering that it allows the patient to talk about his or her feelings and emotions. From this point of view, the health professional involved would be in a better position for having to identify some of the possible triggers that contribute to the patient's shift in moods.

On the other hand, families with persons suffering from bipolar disorder may also be taken through family therapy as a way of providing the individual members with the necessary skills allowing them to handle the patients effectively. In most cases, the shifts in moods are likely to result in conflicts within the family setting; thus, creating a challenge for the family members in trying to handle these patients in a manner that can be considered as being practical. That highlights the need for family therapy, which ensures the families are well-positioned to handle these patients. Health professionals may also prescribe medications for patients with bipolar disorder, which include mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and, in consideration of the patient's safety and severity of the condition, antidepressants. The medications are considered depending on how the patient responds to other approaches to treatment, which may include the use of therapies.

Alternative/Holistic Treatment 

It is equally important to take note of the fact that there exist several alternative treatment options for patients suffering from bipolar disorder. Firstly, a change in dietary intake may be of great value towards ensuring that the patient can build on the possible effects of dealing with some of the underlying symptoms associated with bipolar disorder. Approximately 68% of bipolar disorder patients suffer from excess weight and obesity, which exposes them to a high risk of other conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure (Fountoulakis et al., 2016). That creates the need for having to focus on the adoption of healthy eating as one of the ways through which to reduce exposure to such risk factors. Secondly, uptake of exercise may also help in ensuring that one can balance his or her mood; thus, aiding in reducing the underlying risks associated with bipolar disorder.

Future Avenues 

From the analysis of the condition, one of the critical avenues that it presents for future research is on trying to identify the causation factors for this disorder, as this would aid in the development of a proactive plan for effective disease management. Currently, researchers find themselves at a disadvantage considering that no research has been able to identify any causation factors that health professionals may need to consider as part of their approach to effective treatment of the condition. That serves as a clear indication of the need for having to ensure that researchers adopt a well-structured approach through which to capitalize on the understanding of this disorder. The implication that this is likely to have is that it will shift focus to prevention of the disorder rather than having to focus on treatment as the only approach.

Conclusion 

Bipolar is a mental disorder that causes episodes of elevated mood and depression, which influence the ability to engage in day to day activities. The most essential point learned from the research entail the fact that there is no exact known cause of the bipolar condition. The second point of interest involves the types of bipolar disorder, which are attributed to the nature of signs and symptoms experienced by an individual. The aspect of treatment of the condition that involves cognitive behavioural therapy validated my beliefs that the condition could be improved by the psycho-social intervention. The point on holistic and alternative treatment changed my opinion and perception towards the condition considering the treatment measures that involved dietary improvement and exercise. In conclusions, the research helped in the provision of a proper analysis of the condition by mentioning all the crucial elements that are crucial.

References

Fountoulakis, K. N., Yatham, L., Grunze, H., Vieta, E., Young, A., Blier, P., ... & Moeller, H. J. (2016). The International College of Neuro-Psychopharmacology (CINP) treatment guidelines for bipolar disorder in adults (CINP-BD-2017), part 2: review, grading of the evidence, and a precise algorithm.  International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology ,  20 (2), 121-179.

Grande, I., Berk, M., Birmaher, B., & Vieta, E. (2016). Bipolar disorder.  The Lancet ,  387 (10027), 1561-1572.

Lehmann, S. W., & Forester, B. P. (Eds.). (2017).  Bipolar Disorder in Older Age Patients . Springer.

Whitton, A. E., Treadway, M. T., & Pizzagalli, D. A. (2015). Reward processing dysfunction in major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.  Current opinion in psychiatry ,  28 (1), 7.