Diagnosing the Bipolar Disorders Essay - 1289 Words

Bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive disorder, is a disorder characterized by extreme mood changes. A person suffering from this disorder can go from being energetic and outgoing to feeling worthless and irritated anywhere between a few days to a couple of months, or even years. Diagnosis, treatment, and the dramatic changes cause a threat to the victim. People with bipolar disorder may try to kill themselves or engage in reckless behaviors depending on which stage they are in (Hassel et al 2009.). The stages a person with bipolar disorder goes through are called episodes. These episodes are classified into four groups: mania, depression, hypomania, and a mix between different moods. Mania is characterized by a period of increased energy†¦show more content†¦Bipolar disorder has been divided into different types depending on the severity of the episodes experiences. Bipolar 1 is when a person suffers from episodes of mania, and sometimes even depression. This type is considered one of the most severe forms of bipolar disorder because during the episode, a patient starts to display psychotic symptoms such as hallucination, delusions, and paranoia. The symptoms of bipolar I can last a few weeks or years. Bipolar 2 is a little similar to 1, except the person never experiences full-on mania. Instead, a person with bipolar 2 goes through the hypomania episode and depression. Like bipolar 2, cyclothymia also goes through the hypomania episode and depression, except not as severe. Experts believe that cyclothymia is a milder form of bipolar disorder (Laurel, 2009.). Some of the symptoms of cyclthymia include poor memory, low self-esteem, fatigue, social withdrawal, and racing thoughts. When detecting bipolar disorder, a psychiatrist uses a patient’s signs, symptoms, family history, and the latest edition of â€Å"Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder†, a publication by the American Psychiatric Association, to help make a diagnosis. Usually, during the first assessment, a mental health professional will ask the patient if they are displaying any symptoms of the disorder, how long they have had it for, and whether or not they are severe. Initially, manic-depressiveShow MoreRelatedDiagnosing Bipolar Disorder659 Words   |  3 PagesBipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder is a chronic illness that requires treatment. Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that causes drastic emotional changes and mood swings. Transmutations in mood can range from manic highs, to depressive lows. Bipolar disorder is a mental condition that can lead to dangerous demeanors. These may be things such as cutting or inflicting harm to one’s self. Patients will spend 3 times more days depressed than in a manic state. Due to the variations in episodes, BipolarRead MoreThe Imperfect Science Of Diagnosing And Treating Bipolar Disorder1558 Words   |  7 PagesShaylee Sigler Professor Dahl English 2 The Imperfect Science of Diagnosing and Treating Bipolar Disorder Importance of Individuality Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a life long and potentially fatal illness caused by mood swings of depressive and manic episodes. Bipolar disorder, if not properly treated, could interfere with relationships, a career or school performance, and is the cause in every 1 of 5 suicide deaths. Physicians, as well as the patientsRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Bipolar II1373 Words   |  6 Pages Bipolar II disorder is a relatively common mental illness that affects upwards of 6 million United States citizens. This disease is very complex and often difficult to diagnose. What makes this illness clinically unique is that it is characterized by extreme mood swings that alternate between extreme highs and extreme lows. Bipolar II differs from bipolar I disorder, as that the high moods of bipolar II are milder than bipolar I, which means that bipolar II patients spend more time in the low depressiveRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Bipolar Disorder1125 Words   |  5 Pageswith several mental disorders. The major diagnosis would be bipolar disorder. She also suffers from borderline personality disorder, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety. The American Psychiatric Association s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder defines bipolar disorder as a recurrent mood disorder that includes periods of mania or mixed episodes of mania and depression (Murp hy, 2012, p. 44-50). It was previously known as manic depressive disorder. It is most commonRead MoreEssay on Bipolar1335 Words   |  6 PagesBipolar Disorder Introduction to Psychology November 29,2012 Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity, and the ability to function on a daily basis. People in general have many different mood swings, but someone who has bipolar disorder has severe mood swings that may cause damage to personal relationships, job performance, and the ability to function in school. Diagnosing bipolar disorder can be difficultRead MoreThe Issue Of Bipolar Disorder755 Words   |  4 Pagesreaction will be based upon are: Definitional Issues in Bipolar Disorder Across the Life Cycle (Youngstrom 2009) and Advancing Research in Early-Onset Bipolar-Barriers and Suggestions (Carlson 2009). These two articles both had in common a specific implication of a particular issue. The main issue that caught my attention is the controversy of a doctors ability to diagnose a child with bipolar disorder. Many years ago diagnosing a child as bipolar was a rare and almost an unseen event. In recent yearsRead MoreBipolar Disorder And M ental Health Essay851 Words   |  4 Pagesexperience a mood disorder known as Bipolar Disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health about one percent of the American population have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Living with a person that has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder is very difficult, especially not knowing anything about bipolar. There are many questions to be asked. Such as what is the disorder? Is bipolar disorder heredity? How is the disorder treated? First of all, Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic-depressiveRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder1700 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Bipolar disorders, also known as manic depression, are mental disorders characterized by shifting moods between depression and mania (Bressert, 2016). Those with a bipolar disorder, have extreme emotional states called mood periods. In the United States, more than 10 million people have bipolar disorder (Kennedy, 2015). It is lifelong, but can be treated. Although it can easily be treated, once patients choose to stop taking their medication their symptoms worsen. Around 15 percentRead MoreBipolar Disorder And Mental Health855 Words   |  4 Pagesexperience a mood disorder known as Bipolar Disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health about one percent of the American population has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Living with a person that has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder is very difficult, especially not knowing anything about bipolar. There are many questions to be asked. Such as what is the disorder? Is bipolar disorder heredity? How is the di sorder treated? First of all, Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic-depressiveRead MoreDiscussing Charlie Sheen And Mental Health1230 Words   |  5 Pagespsychological health. I want to find a clear diagnosis for his problems and state of mind. I am diagnosing Sheen with Bipolar disorder which is categorized as an Axis I disorder, in the DSM-V. Bipolar disorder affects approximately 7.5 million people eighteen years or older in any given year (Mohr, 2013). Of the three types of bi-polar disorder, I am diagnosing him with type I bipolar disorder, which is characterized by alternating depressive episodes and one or more manic episodes. â€Å"Manic episodes