Across the globe, there are millions of individuals who grapple with a wide range of mental disorders. Mood disorders are among the most prevalent. Essentially, these disorders involve emotional disturbances that cause disruptions in the lives of those who have developed the disorders. Mood disorders occur in different forms. Depressive and bipolar disorder are some of the forms of the mood disorders. In order to understand how the disorders impact human health, it is critical to conduct an in-depth examination of such issues as their symptoms, diagnoses and the treatment approaches available.
Depressive and Bipolar Disorder
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) identifies depressive and bipolar disorders as among the varieties of mood disorders. In the following section, an exploration of the symptoms, diagnoses, and course of these two disorders is offered.
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Symptoms
A loss of desire or interest in activities and objects that should deliver pleasure is one of the defining symptoms that accompany depressive disorder. Furthermore, those with this disorder suffer weight loss, insomnia, fatigue, and a sense of worthlessness (Kennedy, 2008). The DSM also notes that psychomotor agitation is a symptom of depressive disorder (APA, 2013). On the other hand, depression and mania are the key symptoms associated with bipolar disorder. Individuals with the disorder experience moments of extreme exhilaration and thrill (mania) which are soon replaced with periods of low energy and a sense of sadness (NHS, 2016). During the manic episodes, the individual feels energetic, speaks quickly, and is easily distracted. On the other hand, when they are in the depressive phase, the individual experiences self-doubt, is pessimistic and has suicidal thoughts.
Diagnosis
When diagnosing bipolar and depressive disorders, practitioners employ rigorous procedures. When diagnosing bipolar disorder, the professional conducts a physical examination and interviews the patient. The purpose of the interview is to determine if the patient has exhibited any of the symptoms associated with the disorder. If it is found that the patient has experienced at least one bout of depression or mania, the practitioner has a basis to diagnose them with bipolar disorder (“Bipolar Disorder”, 2017). A similarly rigorous diagnostic procedure is available for depressive disorder. This disorder is diagnosed through an examination of the patient’s history. If the patient reports having experienced persistent symptoms of the disorder that cause significant disruption, they are diagnosed with depressive disorder (NIMH, 2018). It is worth noting that practitioners examine individual cases as the diagnostic criterion varies based on the phase of the disorder.
Course
The development course of depressive disorder is rather complex. This disorder affects individuals at various points in their development process. However, puberty usually marks the first stage where this disorder is reported (Namade, n.d). Its prevalence peaks for those in their 20s. The course of this condition varies from one person to another. For some individuals, depressive disorder is defined by mild symptoms that are experienced for a short moment (Namade, n.d). For others, this disorder presents severe symptoms that cause anguish and disruption for a long time. Recovering from this disorder is also variable. If one has been with the disorder for a short time, their recovery is easier. On the other hand, those that have struggled with depressive disorder for years are likely to encounter serious hardships in their recovery journey (Namade, n.d).
The course of bipolar disorder is also rather complex. Those with the disorder may experience its symptoms for much of their lives. However, the frequency and severity of the symptoms vary from one person to another. It has been observed that the depressive and manic episodes tend to occur with greater frequency and gravity during the later stages of one’s life (“About Bipolar Disorder”, n.d). This disorder has been observed to be more common among women.
Outcome
A full understanding of depressive and bipolar disorders can be accomplished by exploring the outcomes of these disorders. The outcomes have been observed to vary, based on such issues as the patient’s circumstances and commitment to treatment. Research suggests that about 43% of depressive individuals eventually recover when they are provided with adequate and appropriate treatment (Stegenga et al., 2012). However, 57% of the patients continue to grapple with the symptoms of depressive disorder (Stegenga et al., 2012). The outcome that these patients witness is a worsening of their symptoms and serious disruption of their mental functions. For bipolar disorder, the main outcome is a significant drop in psychosocial functioning (Levy & Manove, 2012). This outcome means that bipolar disorder makes it difficult for the patient to maintain social relationships and proper psychological functioning.
Frequency
Bipolar and depressive disorders are becoming increasingly frequent and prevalent. In their article, Yutzy, Woofter, Abbott, Melhem and Parish (2012) track the historical frequency of bipolar disorder. They note that between 1970s-2000, the prevalence rate of this disorder stood at 0.4%-1.6%. From the late 1990s, a worrying increase in the prevalence rate was witnessed. Yutzy and his colleagues report this rate at between 5% and 7%. These figures show that bipolar disorder is becoming more frequent. On the other hand, the prevalence rate of major depressive disorder over the lifetime has been reported to be 20.6% among Americans (May, 2018). This rate varies based on such issues as age, gender and race.
Causes
A number of factors have been blamed for the development of bipolar and depressive disorders. Genetics and biological traits are some of the factors that have been implicated for causing bipolar disorder. Individuals from families where some member has a bipolar disorder face a greater risk of developing the condition (Legg, 2017). Moreover, those with the condition have been observed to exhibit brain-chemical imbalances and hormonal issues. Environmental factors such as loss of a loved one are also thought to cause bipolar disorder (Legg, 2017). Some of the causes of depressive disorder include stressful life events and medical conditions such as heart disease and cancer.
Treatment
Significant progress has been made in the treatment of depressive and bipolar disorders. Medications, and psychological and physical therapies are some of the treatments administered to patients with bipolar disorder (Legg, 2017). Lithium carbonate and antipsychotic drugs such as olanzapine and risperidone are some of the medications available for treating the disorder (Legg, 2017). On the other hand, depressive disorder is treated using psychotherapy and medications (NIMH, 2018). Antidepressants are the main class of medications employed in the treatment of depressive disorder.
Suicide
Suicide is among the issues that have been linked to bipolar and depressive disorders. Novick, Swartz and Frank (2010) are among the scholars who have investigated the association between bipolar disorder and suicide. They noted that bipolar disorder is a risk factor for suicide. According to these scholars, those with bipolar disorder tend to use violent and lethal methods when committing suicide. Depressive disorder has also been blamed for suicide. Li et al. (2017) conducted a study that led them to conclude that depressive disorder is a risk factor for suicide. The findings by these scholars underscore the need for more effort to alleviate the suffering endured by patients with bipolar and depressive disorders.
In conclusion, depression and bipolar disorder remain some of the most common mental health conditions. This is despite the tremendous effort that has been dedicated to the prevention and treatment of these conditions. While there are major differences that distinguish them, bipolar and depressive disorder share the similarity of causing disruption to one’s mood. Research has allowed for the outcomes, causes, diagnosis and treatment of the disorders to be well understood. If significant gains are to be made in the prevention, treatment and management of these conditions, the scholarly and medical communities must join forces and commit greater effort.
References
About bipolar disorder. (n.d). International Bipolar Foundation. Retrieved February 25, 2019 from http://ibpf.org/about-bipolar-disorder
American Psychological Association (APA). (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders . Fifth Edition. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Bipolar disorder. (2017). National Alliance on Mental Illness. Retrieved February 25, 2019 from https://www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-conditions/bipolar-disorder
Kennedy, S. H. (2008). Core symptoms of major depressive disorder: relevance to diagnosis and treatment. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 10 (3), 271-7.
Legg, T. J. (2017). What you should know about bipolar disorder. Medical News Today. Retrieved February 25, 2019 from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/37010.php
Levy, B., & Manove, E. (2012). Functional outcome in bipolar disorder: the big picture. Depression Research and Treatment. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/949248
Li, H., Luo, X., Ke, X., Dai, Q., Zheng, W., Zhang, C., Cassidy, B. M., Soares, J. C., Zhang, X. Y., & Ning, Y. (2017). Major depressive disorder and suicide risk among adult outpatients at several general hospitals in a Chinese Han population. PloS One, 12 (10). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186143
May, B. (2018). Prevalence of major depressive disorder remains high in US population. Psychiatry Advisor. Retrieved February 25, 2019 from https://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/home/depression-advisor/prevalence-of-major-depressive-disorder-remains-high-in-us-population/
Namade, R. (n.d). The development and course of major depressive disorder. Gulf Bend Center. Retrieved February 25, 2019 from https://www.gulfbend.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=458&cn=5
National Health Services (NHS). (2016). Symptoms. Bipolar disorder. NHS. Retrieved February 25, 2019 from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bipolar-disorder/symptoms/
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH. (2018). Depression. NIMH. Retrieved February 25, 2019 from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
Novick, D. M., Swartz, H. A., & Frank, E. (2010). Suicide attempts in bipolar I and bipolar II disorder: a review and meta-analysis of the evidence. Bipolar Disorder, 12 (1), 1-9.
Stegenga, B. K., Kamphuis, M. H., King, M., Nazareth, I., & Geerlings, M. I. (2012). The natural course and outcome of major depressive disorder in primary care: the PREDICT-NL study. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 47 (1), 87-95.
Yutzy, S. H., Woofter, C. R., Abbott, C. C., Melhem, I. M., & Parish, B. S. (2012). The increasing frequency of mania and bipolar disorder. Causes and potential negative impacts. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disorders, 200 (5), 380-7.
