Bipolar Disorder
Introduction
Bipolar disorder is among the most highly studied neurological disorders. According to estimates from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), bipolar disorder affects more that 2% of adults in the US. The NIHM also estimates that 83% of the 2% that are affected have a severe case of the disorder. Bipolar disorder is marked by certain symptoms that are classified into four episodes that include mania, hypomania, depression, and mixed episode. The different forms of the disorder are all marked by a variety of related signs and symptoms that vary in severity or intensity. Although the disorder is considered to be complex, it is highly regarded as a treatable disorder. However, it is unfortunate that less than 40% of people affected by the disorder receive what the NIHM terms as “minimally sufficient treatment” due to lack of education, social stigma, and funding issues (Krans & Cherney, n.p).
History Bipolar Disorder
Krans & Cherney (n.p) have noted that the history of this disorder is possibly just as complicated as the disorder itself. The condition is highly regarded as a treatable disorder. The more scientists in the mental health profession learn about the condition, the more affected individuals can be able to get the assistance they require in terms of treatment. Nevertheless, the history of the disorder can be traced back to the ancient times during the Greek and Roman civilizations, which formed the basic foundations of diagnosing and treating the condition and related mental conditions. Further more detailed and structured studies of the disease can be traced back to the 17th Century. Additional discoveries were made during the 19th and 20th Century and these discoveries have all played a great role in understanding bipolar disorder and developing treatments for the condition (Krans & Cherney, n.p). Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
According to Krans & Cherney (n.p), Aretaeus of Cappadocia is credited with beginning the process of describing symptoms within the medical field during the 1st Century in Greece. For many centuries, his observations on the association between depression and mania went generally unnoticed. Nonetheless, the ancient Romans and Greeks were responsible for coining the terms and “mania,” “melancholia,” which are currently the modern day depressive and manic. The ancient Romans and Greeks even learnt that the use of lithium salts in their baths helped to calm manic individuals and lift the spirits of those suffering from depression. Nowadays, lithium is a popular treatment for patients with bipolar disorder (Krans & Cherney, n.p).
Krans & Cherney (n.p) have also pointed out that during the 17th Century a man named Robert Burton produced a book titled The Anatomy of Melancholy. According to Krans & Cherney (n.p), the main subject or topic in the book revolved around the treatment of melancholy or non-specific depression using song and dance as a treatment. Although the book also contained medical knowledge, it largely functions as part of the body of literature on depression as well as a vantage point of the impacts of depression in the society. Nevertheless, it offered in-depth knowledge about the treatments and symptoms of what is currently termed as clinical depression (Krans & Cherney, n.p).
Several centuries passed without any new discoveries about bipolar disorder till 1851 when a French psychiatrist named Jean-Pierre Farlet published an article that described what he termed as “la folie circulae,” translating to circular insanity. This article details individuals that switch between manic excitement and severe depression. The article is up to date regarded to be the first documented scientific diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Besides making the first diagnosis, he also noted that there is a genetic link in bipolar disorder, something that is still believed to be true among medical professionals to date (Krans & Cherney, n.p).
A German psychiatrist named Emil Kraepelin later transformed the history of the disorder by breaking away from Sigmund Freud’s theory which held that the suppression of desires and society played a major role when it comes to mental disorders or illnesses. Emil Kraepelin is credited with recognizing the biological bases of mental illnesses. Consequently, it is widely believed that he is the first individual to seriously undertake study of mental illnesses. His article, Manic Depressive Insanity and Paranoia, which was published in 1921, described the contrast in manic-depressive and praecox. Kraepelin’s classifications of mental disorders stand as the grounds used by professionals in the mental health field today (Krans & Cherney, n.p).
A professional system of classification for mental disorders, which is vital to better understanding and treatment of disorders, has its early foundations in the 1950s from the German psychiatrist Karl Leonhard along with others. The word “bipolar,” referring to “two poles,” indicating the polar contraries of mania and depression, appeared in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) for the first time in the third version in 1980. The third version eliminated the use of the term “mania” to shun terming patients “maniacs”. Currently, the fifth version of the DSM is regarded as the leading classification system for professionals in the mental healthcare field.
Signs and Symptoms
Bipolar disorder is a mental condition in which an individual’s mood varies or fluctuates in cycles over time. During the course of the condition, the individual may experience phases of depressed mood, periods of normal mood, and phases of elevated mood. There are four different types of mood incidents or episodes that occur in people suffering from bipolar disorder. These include mania or manic episode, hypomania episode, depression, and mixed episode (Kahn, Ross, Printz & Sachs, 1).
Manic Episode
The manic episode often starts with a pleasurable feeling of heightened energy, social ease and creativity. Nonetheless, these senses quickly develop into full-blown euphoria (severely heightened mood) or extreme irritability. Individuals with mania normally lack insight, refute that something is wrong, as well as angrily blame someone who might point out any problem. People who experience a manic episode display certain symptoms that last for at least one week. The symptoms also make it extremely hard for the individual to function normally (Kahn et al, 1).
The main symptoms in a manic episode often include a feeling of abnormally high euphoria, or heightened irritability. These feelings can be accompanied by at least four other symptoms mentioned below. The first one is the need for little sleep but possessing high levels of energy. The second one is speaking too fast that other people fail to follow. The person may also experience racing thoughts. Thirdly, the individual may be easily distracted that his/her attention swings between different topics within a few minutes. The individual may also have a bloated sense of power, importance or greatness. Lastly, the individual may do reckless acts without thinking about potential magnitudes (e.g. engaging in inappropriate sexual activities, making unwise business decisions, or spending recklessly or extravagantly). In extreme cases, the individual can also display psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions (Kahn et al, 1).
Hypomanic Episode
The hypomanic episode is a milder type of mania that is marked by the same symptoms but they are less severe and often do not cause much impairment. When experiencing a hypomanic episode, the individual may have a less heightened mood, be more productive, and feel better than normal. In many cases, these episodes produce a good feeling and the pursuit of hypomania can even cause the individual to stop taking their medications. Nevertheless, hypomania can hardly be maintained forever and is usually followed by a progression to mania or a fall into depression (Kahn et al, 1).
Depression
This is also knows as a major depressive episode. In this episode, there are certain symptoms that are experienced for at a minimum period of 2 weeks. These symptoms can make it very hard for the individual to function normally. The main feelings include sadness and loss of interest in the activities that an individual normally enjoys. These symptoms are further accompanied by at least four of the symptoms mentioned below. An individual may find it difficult to get some sleep or sleep excessively. The person may also lose appetite or overeat. Thirdly, the person may find it difficult to concentrate or make decisions. The individual may also feel too slow or extremely agitated to stand or stay still. The individual may also feel guilty or worthless or have a sense of low self-esteem. Lastly, the person can have thoughts of suicide. In severe cases, an individual may experience delusions or hallucinations (Kahn et al, 1).
Mixed Episode
This is probably the most disabling bipolar episode as it includes symptoms of depression and mania. These symptoms often occur concurrently or alternately on a frequent basis in the course of the day. The person may feel agitated or excitable like in mania but at the same time feel depressed and irritable. Given that the mixed episode is accompanied by a combination of depression and high energy, it presents the highest risk of suicide (Kahn et al, 1).
Treatments
One of the types of treatments for bipolar disorder includes mood stabilizing medications. These are often the first choice when it comes to treating bipolar disorder. Generally, individuals continue treatment using mood stabilizers for several years. Besides lithium, most of the mood stabilizing medications are anti-convulsants, which are normally used in treating seizures but are also help in controlling moods. Some of these medications include lithium (Lithobid or Eskalith), Valproic acid, lamotrigine (Lamictal), and gabapentin (Neurontin) (National Institute of Mental Health, 10).
Atypical antipsychotic medications can also be used at times in the treatment of bipolar disorder symptoms (National Institute of Mental Health, n.p). In many cases, these medications have to be taken alongside other medications. These medications are referred to as “atypical” so as to differentiate them from earlier medications that were known as first-generation antipsychotics or conventional. Some examples of atypical antipsychotic medications that are used in treating the symptoms of bipolar disorder include Olanzapine, Aripiprazole, Quetiapine, and Risperidone (National Institute of Mental Health, 11).
The other category of medication for treating the symptoms of bipolar disorder includes antidepressant medications. Antidepressants are usually taken together with mood stabilizers. Doctors often require this due to the fact that taking antidepressants alone can increase an individual’s risk of developing mania, hypomania, and even rapid cycling symptoms. Some examples of antidepressants that are used in treating bipolar disorder include Fluoxetine, Paroxetine (Prxil), and sertraline (Zoloft) (National Institute of Mental Health, 12).
Conclusion
In summary, bipolar disorder is a mental disorder that is also called manic-depressive condition or illness. It causes unusual mood swings, energy and activity levels, and can hinder the ability to concentrate or perform normal day-to-day activities. Bipolar disorder has a long history that dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. There have been several attempts throughout history to study the disorder, but the most comprehensive studies were performed in the 1950s by several psychiatrists. Treatment for bipolar disorder often includes the use of mood stabilizing medications, typical antipsychotic medications, and antidepressant medications. These medications are often used to manage the symptoms of the disorder.
Works Cited
Kahn, David A., et al. “Treatment of bipolar disorder: a guide for patients and families.” Postgraduate Medicine 107 (2000).
Krans, B & Cherney, K. The History of Bipolar Disorder. (2016). Web: http://www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/history-bipolar#1
National Institute of Mental Health. Bipolar Disorder. (N.d) PDF. Available at: http://www.pine.edu/assets/uploads/files/about_bipolar_disorder.pdf
National Institute of Mental Health. N.d. Bipolar Disorder. PDF. Available at: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/tr-15-3679_152248.pdf