...BIPOLAR DISORDER PSY/340 Today there are many different illnesses that affect the structure and function of the brain. Learning Team B decided to do their research on bipolar Disorder. Team B will evaluate the teams’ presentation and be able to describe the illness. Explain the neurological damage or changes to the brain as a result of the illness. Explain the behavioral functional changes that can occur as a result. Describe the suspected known causes of the illness. Discuss the treatments and explain the role of genetics of the illness. Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic depressive disorder or manic depression is a serious mental illness that can lead to risky behavior, damaged relationships and careers, and even suicidal tendencies if not treated (Healthline, 2014). Bipolar disorder is a serious mental disorder that causes extreme shifts in mood, energy, and functioning. Bipolar disorder has two phases which are manic phase and depressed phase. Manic phase symptoms is increased energy, unusual talkativeness, racing thoughts, little need for sleep, inflated self-esteem, and spending sprees. The depressed phase is sadness, uncontrollable crying, anxiety, loss of interest or enjoyment in activities, withdrawal from family and friends and excessive guilt (Healthline, 2014). Bipolar disorder is a relatively common and chronic psychiatric condition in which patient’s episodes of mania and depression, usually with intervening periods of relative mood stability. Three brain...
Words: 1571 - Pages: 7
...Running Head: BIPOLAR DISORDER Bipolar Disorder Psychology 111 Introduction to Psychology Abby Mehilng Dakota College at Bottineau Bipolar Disorder: Bipolar disorder is a condition that affects both how you act and feel. It’s a brain disorder that causes extreme mood swings from manic highs to depressive lows, these are not normal highs and lows everyday people are faced with in their daily life, these symptoms are severe. This disorder also affects your energy and activity levels. Imagine not being able to control the way you act and feel at any given moment in life. Imagine not being able to control eating habits, sleep patterns and temper. People all over the word suffer from these types of symptoms because of the disorder called bipolar-disorder. It is a serious condition that is with a person throughout their entire life and affects their everyday living. It can be described as an extreme high or a feeling unusually great. With this disorder people experience extreme mood swings that they cannot control, and it usually leads to a negative thing happing in the person’s life. Bipolar-disorder is a disease that cannot be cured and is a major problem because people cannot live normally because of the negative effects it causes in their lives such as uncontrollable mood changes, reckless behavior and harming themselves and others. Bipolar-disorder affects both men and woman the same and usually appears between the ages of 15-25. The exact cause of it is unknown but...
Words: 1235 - Pages: 5
...Bipolar Disorder Lisa Thomas Abnormal Psychology February 23, 2011 Abstract The purpose of this paper is to discuss bipolar disorders. This paper will include a discussion on what bipolar disorders are how each episode of bipolar affects the person mental status and some of the treatment for this disorder. Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that includes a continuum of depression, mixed moods, hypomania and mania (Benazzi, 2007). Bipolar disorder has two main diagnoses which are bipolar I and bipolar II. Diagnosis of bipolar I is made when mania is presented for at least a week, and is severe enough to cause hospitalization (Benazzi, 2007). On the other hand bipolar II is linked to hypomania lasting for at least four days, and does not require hospitalization, however, both bipolar I and bipolar II have periods of depression (Benazzi, 2007). Bipolar disorder, or manic depressive disorder, is a disorder that is characterized by extreme mood changes (Benazzi,2007). A person that suffers from this disorder can go from begin energetic, and outgoing to feeling of worthlessness, and may become irritated. These extreme mood shifts can be altered in a short amount of time, or take months or even up to a year to go through a mood transition (Salto, 2002). A person that suffers from bipolar disorder that goes for treatment is still not out of danger; the dramatic changes during treatment can cause the person who has bipolar to have many mixed emotions...
Words: 1764 - Pages: 8
... Bipolar Disorder Ray Boarman Community College of Baltimore County Boarman 2 Bipolar Disorder Auntie Pauline was always a blast to be around. Filled with a seemingly endless supply of energy, my brother and I used to love when she visited. We would run around my grandfathers yard playing tag or swinging on the tire swing with her. However, months would go by and we wouldn’t see or hear from Aunt Pauline. No phones calls would come from South Carolina until she was feeling “up” again. Aunt Pauline has bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder (BD) is one of two basic types of mood disorders (MD), the other being unipolar disorder (Weiten, 2012). A MD “is marked by emotional disturbances of varied kinds that may spill over to disrupt physical, perceptual, social, and thought processes” (Weiten, 2012). Bipolar disorders’ emotional disturbances include bouts of mania, or elation, followed by depression (Weiten, 2012). These disturbances can vary from person to person but, median lengths are known to be 3 to 12 months long (Weiten, 2012). There are many theories why individuals develop bipolar disorder however, scientist agree that it is not caused by a single factor (Bipolar Disorder). Genetics is shown to be a factor in the acquisition of the disorder. If a family has a history of BD the chances of an offspring acquiring the disorder is increased (Bipolar Disorder)...
Words: 814 - Pages: 4
...Psychotherapy: Bipolar Disorder Psychotherapy: Bipolar Disorder By March 2, 2012 Psychotherapy: Bipolar Disorder I’ve chosen to research treatment for bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is also referred to as manic-depressive illness. Bipolar disorder causes severe changes in mood and attitude. Elevated energy levels and depression can sometimes alternate. Bipolar disorder can also be severe enough to cause delusions and hallucinations. There’s quite a wide array of treatment for bipolar disorder. The most common form of treatment is mood stabilization medications. The first mood stabilizing medication Lithium controls systems of elevated moods. It also helps to prevent the reoccurrence of mood swings and depression. Atypical antipsychotic medications are another form of treatment that may be used in conjunction with other treatments as well. Atypical antipsychotic medications are used to treat patients that have trouble with or experience psychotic episodes. It is also sometimes used just to maintain mood levels if even the patient has never had any psychotic episodes. Some are used only after there has been a sudden episode. Some are also used to control and maintain mixed episodes. Another step in treatment is to use antidepressant medications. They’re used to treat symptoms of depression. Most patients take antidepressants with mood stabilization medications. There are other types of treatment approaches that may work. There are non-drug treatments...
Words: 351 - Pages: 2
...Name Course Name and Number Date Submitted Bipolar disorder Description Bipolar disorder is a major health concern that has drawn interest from the general public, media and the scientific community over the past decade. Bipolar disorder, sometimes referred to as manic-depressive illness is a neurological disorder that causes anomalous changes in energy, mood and ability to function in an individual. The disorder distorts moods and thoughts, interferes with rational thought and incites dreadful behaviors in an individual. Bipolar disorder symptoms often lead to deteriorating results at school and work, damaged relationships and sometimes suicide (Treatment Advocacy Centre 1). Bipolar patients experience moods swings ranging from the lows of depression; extreme sadness, hopelessness and loss of interest in most activities to the highs of mania when one feels full of energy and euphoric. Bipolar disorder is neither a viral, fungal, parasitic nor bacterial disease the disorder is not caused by any pathogen. The disorder is not infectious and cannot be spread from one person to another. Bipolar comordities are classified as either medical or psychiatric. Some of the common comordities of bipolar disorder include Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Anxiety disorders, substance disorder, obesity and metabolic syndrome (Furham and Anthony 254). Epidemiology National Institute of Mental Health (1) estimates that Bipolar disorder affects 5.7 million American adults; this...
Words: 1827 - Pages: 8
...Bipolar Disorder Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness is a disorder in the brain that is characterized by bizarre changes in mood. Individuals with bipolar disorder experience shifts from depression to mania (an energetic mood). According to “Healthline” (2005-2013), “little new was discovered about bipolar disorder until French psychiatrist Jean-Pierre Falret published an article in 1851 describing what he called “la folie circulaire,” which translates to circular insanity. The article details patients switching through severe depression and manic excitement, and is considered the first documented diagnosis of bipolar disorder.” There are many myths and misconceptions associated with bipolar disorder, but one common misconception is that bipolar disorder is just another name for mood swings. Before lithium, past treatments for bipolar disorder have included: bleeding and induced vomiting to release black bile, prayer and sacrifice, soaking in mineral water, morphine and other medications, institutionalization and sterilization. The signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder have a wide range from an overly joyful mood (mania) to an extremely sad mood (depressive). Myths, Misconceptions, and Past Treatments Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that comes with a stigma. There are many myths and misconceptions about bipolar disorder that continue to misinform and contribute to the stigma. It is a false but widely held belief...
Words: 907 - Pages: 4
...Bipolar Disorder Introduction Bipolar disorder is a serious mental disorder. People who have bipolar disorder feel very happy and energized some days, and very sad and depressed on other days. Abnormal and risky behaviors caused by mood swings can cause people affected by bipolar disorder to lose jobs, friends and money. It can also lead to substance abuse and addiction. In some cases, it may lead to suicide. It is estimated that up to 2% of the population may have bipolar disorder. If not treated, bipolar disorder keeps getting worse as the mood shift becomes frequent and more severe. If treated, it can be managed and people can lead successful lives. This reference summary explains bipolar disorder. It discusses its symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment options. Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder is a serious brain disorder. People with bipolar disorder go through unusual mood changes from very happy to very sad and depressed. Bipolar disorder is also called manic-depressive illness. It is normal for people to experience some emotional ups and downs from time to time. But for people with bipolar disorder, the mood swings are much more powerful than the normal ups and downs everyone has. When people with bipolar disorder feel very happy and up, they are also much more active than usual. This is called mania. This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or...
Words: 2752 - Pages: 12
...Bipolar Disorder PSY350: Physiological Psychology Instructor: Claire Decristofaro January 19, 2016 I have chosen to research and discuss Bipolar Disorder as my younger brother (31) wsa diagnosed with BD nearly ten years ago after an injury to the head. After he was diagnosed with BD, I began to put together his behavior over our life, and realized that the symptoms that my brother exhibited matched with BD. As far as I was aware, no one in our family had ever been diagnosed with Bipolar other than my brother, so I decided to reach out to my Aunt and found that we do have other family members that have this disorder as well. My Aunt’s brother and her daughter Nycol were diagnosed with BD; it appears that BD runs in our family and is genetic. Bipolar Disorder (BD) is classified as a mood disorder; however it can also be classified as a psychotic disorder because Bipolar Disorder has psychotic symptoms (Wilson, 2013). Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes a person to experience unusual shifts in mood, activity levels, and energy; this affects a person's ability to carry out normal, everyday tasks (nimh.nih.gov). A person diagnosed with BD experiences extreme highs and lows. During a mania phase, known as a high, a person goes through many different emotions and may experience (help.org): - Feelings of heightened energy - Hyperactivity - Require little sleep - Creativity - Euphoria...
Words: 985 - Pages: 4
...Bipolar Disorder Research Paper Evaluating Bipolar Disorder History of the Disorder Bipolar Disorder, formally known as “manic-depressive disorder,” is one of the oldest disorders that dates back to the second century. Aretaeus, who lived in the ancient city Cappadocia in Turkey, was the first to find and connect symptoms of mania and depression. Jules Farlet connected depression to suicide in 1854 and led to the term “Bipolar Disorder.” He found that moments of depression were linked to heightened moods and saw that there was a difference between this and simple depression. In 1875, these findings led to the term of “Manic-Depressive Psychosis.” He also later found a genetic link with this disorder. Francois Baillarger found and explained the depressive phase of the disorder and then received its own classification as a mental illness because of this finding. Emil Krapelin created the term manic-depressive after a study focusing on the how manic states effect depression. After fifteen years, the disorder was accepted and became a big theory of the 1930’s. An article, published in The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disorder in 1952, showed that there was a genetic link in the disorder and that there is a chance that manic depression can run in the family. The 1960’s saw many cases of people with the disorder that were being institutionalize and were barely helped because Congress refused to treat manic depression as an actual illness. The 1970’s saw laws and standards...
Words: 2188 - Pages: 9
...Bipolar Disorder University of Phoenix Psy 103 September 7, 2009 Bipolar Disorder How would a person know if they had bipolar disorder? Would they just assume that their extreme feelings were normal? Most people would indeed assume that their extreme happiness was normal. However, those people might begin to suspect a problem after they have lain in bed for days not wanting to do anything. These extreme feelings define bipolar disorder. The person is extremely happy or sad with no middle area. Even doctors have a difficult time diagnosing this disorder. The doctor must consider hereditary factors, biological influences, states of consciousness, and the person’s personality. All these factors play a part in the diagnoses and treatment of bipolar disorder. General Behavior Diagnosing bipolar people is difficult because of their general behavior. Bipolar people do show outward signs that a problem exist. However, most people have no idea what bipolar is, let alone the symptoms. Especially since the bipolar disorder has four stages or episodes. Each stage of this disorder can be dangerous. The manic part of the disorder has the person feeling good. They might do risky activities because they think they are invincible. The manic stage can make the person irritable or angry. During the depression episode they will feel very sad for a long period. They do not want to eat, get out of bed, or their normal activities. The depression stage can last for months, making this the...
Words: 1600 - Pages: 7
...PSY/450 Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder is a long-term brain disorder that causes sporadic shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out daily living tasks. Symptoms of bipolar disorder can be very severe. Individuals suffering from bipolar disorder can experience the normal ups and downs but at a more intense level than that of which all individuals experience from one time to another (BIPOLAR DISORDER, n.d.). Bipolar disorder often appears in the later teen years into their early adult years. About half of bipolar cases begin before the age of 25. Some of the individuals experience symptoms during childhood when other individuals develop symptoms later in life. Bipolar disorder is difficult to diagnosis and sometimes suffer for years before receiving a proper diagnosis and treatment. Burrell Behavior Health is a non-profit organization that provides a variety of mental health services to individuals of all ages and cultures. Burrell takes into consideration the variety of cultures and their beliefs when developing a treatment plan for each individual they serve (Burrell Behavior Health/services). When developing a treatment plan for individuals from different cultures the treatment team takes each individual; their specific beliefs and needs into consideration when choosing the plan of treatment that will work best for their particular illness. Burrell Behavior Health offers psychotherapy, medications, and sometimes even play therapy to develop...
Words: 831 - Pages: 4
...The phenomenon of bipolar affective disorder has been a mystery since the 16th century. History has shown that this affliction can appear in almost anyone. Even the great painter Vincent Van Gogh is believed to have had bipolar disorder. It is clear that in our society many people live with bipolar disorder; however, despite the abundance of people suffering from the it, we are still waiting for definite explanations for the causes and cure. The one fact of which we are painfully aware is that bipolar disorder severely undermines its" victims ability to obtain and maintain social and occupational success. Because bipolar disorder has such debilitating symptoms, it is imperative that we remain vigilant in the quest for explanations of its causes and treatment. Affective disorders are characterized by a smorgasbord of symptoms that can be broken into manic and depressive episodes. The depressive episodes are characterized by intense feelings of sadness and despair that can become feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. Some of the symptoms of a depressive episode include anhedonia, disturbances in sleep and appetite, psycomoter retardation, loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness, guilt, difficulty thinking, indecision, and recurrent thoughts of death and suicide (Hollandsworth, Jr. 1990 ). The manic episodes are characterized by elevated or irritable mood, increased energy, decreased need for sleep, poor judgment and insight, and often ...
Words: 1719 - Pages: 7
...Bipolar Disorder By: Nikki Dillenbeck PY 231 Grand Rapids Community College Everyone has ups and downs in their mood. Happiness, sadness, and anger are normal emotions and an essential part of everyday life. In contrast, Bipolar Disorder is a medical condition were their mood swings are more elaborate and out of proportion, and usually are not related to a certain situation. These mood swings their experiencing damages their normal functioning in everyday life. “People with bipolar disorder experience both the lows of depression and the highs of mania. Many describe their life as an emotional roller coaster, as they shift back and forth between extreme moods” (Comer, 2014, Page 197). The mania part of this disorder includes moods that are very dramatic and out of control. The intensity of the mood of mania can result in damaging yourself physically or mentally, and damaging relationships with the ones closest to you. Usually people experience an episode of this mania. Which means that it doesn’t just last minutes or hours, it can last a week, a month, or even longer sometimes. In this episode you experience high self-esteem, not much sleep, racing thoughts, distractibility, and increased talkativeness. There are two different types of bipolar disorder. Bipolar 1 disorder, and bipolar 2 disorder. Bipolar 1 is the full manic episodes, and major depressive episodes. Bipolar 2 has the mild manic episodes along with the major depressive episodes. Unlike the bipolar 1, the...
Words: 763 - Pages: 4
...Bipolar Diagnosis and Treatment Axia College University of Phoenix BEH/225: Introduction to Behavioral Science [pic] Thomas Vance December 7, 2008 Bipolar is under the category of one of a few types of a mood disorder. Although we all experience variations in our moods (normal fluctuations from sadness or stress or whatever may be the case), they are no comparison to the extremes experienced by individuals with bipolar disorder. Those who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder have experiences with both episodes of major depression and mania (Gazzaniga & Heatherton, 2005). Manic episodes are categorized as having elevated moods, increased activity, and diminished need for sleep, grandiose ideas, racing thoughts, and extreme distractibility. During these episodes, there are often excessive involvement in pleasurable but foolish activities such as sexual indiscretions, buying sprees, and risky business ventures. The individual usually regrets these situations once the mania is over. Not everyone necessarily experiences these extreme episodes, as others may suffer less extreme examples of mood elevations, known as hypomanic episodes. They are often categorized as heightened creativity, productivity, and can be extremely pleasurable and rewarding. People experiencing these symptoms are known as to have a Bipolar II diagnosis, whereas people with extreme depression and manic episodes, as mentioned before...
Words: 1153 - Pages: 5
