BIPOLAR DISORDER 1

Bipolar Disorders

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Institution

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Abstract

According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual

of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Bipolar disorders are described as a group of brain disorders that

lead to a considerable fluctuation in an individual’s energy, ability to function, and mood.

Bipolar disorder set of disorder consists of three different conditions, that is cyclothymic

disorder, bipolar I, and bipolar II (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Cyclothymic

disorder is a cyclic disorder that leads to short episodes of depression and hypomania; bipolar I

disorder is a manic-depressive disorder that can occur with or without episodes of depression or

hypomania, and Bipolar II disorder is made of manic and depressive episodes that alternate and

are usually less severe and do not constrain function (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

Individuals who have bipolar disorder undergo periods of over-reactivity, great excitement,

euphoria referred to as mania, delusions, and other times of feeling hopeless and sad hence the

meaning of the word bipolar, which explains the fluctuation between great highs and deep lows.

Body

Many essential features of bipolar disorder allow individuals to differentiate between

occasional mood swings and severe mental conditions. The first consideration is to know

whether the fluctuations in mood are due to a situation, an event, person, or occur without any

causes. While the attitudes of individuals with bipolar disorder can be interrupted by situational

variables, individuals with bipolar disorders also continuously become depressed or manic for no

apparent reason. Compared to many individuals, moodiness is related to a particularly stressful

period, situational event, or hormonal changes in an individual’s body (American Psychiatric

Association, 2013). The intensity and period of low and high moods are also factors that are

supposed to be a concern when making judgments on whether an individual is considered

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concerned about bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder undergo an irritable or elevated

mood for nearly four days continuously, and their depressive episodes can last for about two

weeks per period. If an individual is struggling with moodiness, the strength of the moods

experienced can be suggestively higher on the intensity scale than those with bipolar disorder.

Diagnosis is often offered to young patients who present a major first depressive episode,

whereby the diagnosis is based on psychiatric history given by the caregivers and the family and

not on the present psychopathological valuation by the psychiatrist (Armour et al., 2016) Bipolar

disorder affects nearly 2.5 % of the population, but the most affected are the first-degree relatives

of people who have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder undergo

mood swings that are not severe in intensity, and this is referred to as hypomanic episode

whereby an individual may experience an elevated mood, high self-esteem, and reduced need to

sleep; these symptoms are not too severe up to the point of impacting an individual’s everyday

functioning or presence of psychotic symptoms.

In most cases, the bipolar episode can consist of symptoms of both depression and mania.

Knowing the signs of episodes of bipolar disorder can be a crucial beginning of getting support

and treatment for an individual. Most individuals link bipolar disorder with the lows and highs in

the mood, but the condition does more than just that (Armour et al., 2016). Symptoms can

consist of changes in eating, sleeping, attention, energy level, and other traits; these symptoms

mostly start showing at the age of twenty-five and over. Mania is a phrase used to describe an

elevated or high-energy mood state (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). An individual

suffering from mania may feel cranky or top of the world for no reason; he/she does not want

much sleep, and they may try to talk faster to match their speedy thoughts and stay in line with a

single task. The victim may feel they can do great things like being a celebrity or possessing
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superpowers. Due to these senses of elevated self-worth, the individual may be at risk of making

risky decisions that can harm their future or damage their health (Armour et al., 2016). A manic

episode should consist of up to more than three of the following signs: high talkativeness,

increased grandiosity or self-esteem, low need to sleep, increase in energy level or direct goal

activity, racing thoughts, insufficient attention, and taking risky decisions. Mania sometimes

leads to problems in school, relationships, and work, and at some point, it can need

hospitalization (Angst et al., 2016) A less severe form of mania, referred to as hypomania, is a

condition where an individual shows high energy symptoms but can carry out everyday

responsibilities and experience increased job performance. But, a hypomanic episode can result

in depression or full symptoms of mania and therefore needs treatment.

Depression is a decreased or low energy mood state commonly affecting individuals

with bipolar disorder. A depressed individual can appear to be moving in slow motion; he/she

experiences trouble in coming up with decisions and is discouraged when fun actions that lift

his/her mood stops working (Angst et al., 2016). An individual going through the following at

least five symptoms can be experiencing depression, that is changes in sleep, depressed mood,

changes in eating routine, lack of energy or fatigue, failing to be happy about activities that once

made him/her happy, slowing down or restlessness, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty

concentrating or indecision and thinking of suicide (Angst et al., 2016). Not all individuals with

bipolar can suffer from depression, but if an individual experiences manic symptoms, he/she is at

high risk of being depressed. Therefore a combination of depression and manic is what bipolar

disorder is called a disorder with mixed features.

Depending on an individual’s symptoms, a mental health professional or doctor can use

them to offer a diagnosis. First, the mental health professional has to be sure that bipolar
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symptoms are due to alcohol or drug use or any other medical condition (Kaltenboeck et al.,

2016). It has proven that individuals who do not get treatment for bipolar often use alcohol or

drugs to avoid symptoms, and so they may require substance detoxification before any diagnosis

is conducted. If an individual is experiencing the full symptoms of a manic episode, they may

need to be diagnosed with bipolar I disorder (Kaltenboeck et al., 2016). And if an individual is

experiencing manic symptoms but he/she is not highly weakened by them and has experienced

depressive episodes. The individual needs a bipolar II disorder diagnosis. Lastly, suppose an

individual undergoes depressive and manic symptoms without accomplishing the requirements

for a full depressive or manic episode (Kaltenboeck et al., 2016). In that case, the mental health

professional may diagnose an individual with cyclothymic disorder. If an individual is not sure

whether he/she is experiencing a usual change in mood or one that can require a diagnosis, they

are supposed to ask themselves whether the symptoms have interfered with school, work, daily

responsibilities, or relationships and if it is true, then the individual should consult a mental

health professional. Individuals need to know that bipolar disorder symptoms can be treated,

individuals can proceed with successful and live healthy lives instead of being ruled by shifting

moods.

Conclusion

Being compassionate is major in helping individuals to recuperate from any illness.

Encouraging individuals with bipolar disorder to do something that can help them cope with the
condition, for instance, seeking the proper treatment or proposing to do something they cannot
do. Family members can encourage their relatives with bipolar disorder to explain their feelings
or ensure that they understand that they won't judge them if they are not ready to present their
emotions. Help them know that their situation is normal and recover like anyone else and that
they will always be supported no matter what.
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References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders

(DSM-5®). American Psychiatric Pub.

Armour, C., Műllerová, J., & Elhai, J. D. (2016). A systematic literature review of PTSD's latent

structure in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV to DSM-

5. Clinical psychology review, 44, 60-74.

Angst, J. (2013). Bipolar disorders in DSM-5: strengths, problems and

perspectives. International journal of bipolar disorders, 1(1), 1-3.

Kaltenboeck, A., Winkler, D., & Kasper, S. (2016). Bipolar and related disorders in DSM-5 and

ICD-10. CNS spectrums, 21(4), 318-323.