Bipolar disorder: characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment

Bi-Polar

Description of disorder and symptoms

Bipolar disorder

Alternation between manic, depressive, and hypomanic episodes

Causes

Society's relationship with the disorder

Frequency of occurrence

Controversy

Description of disorder and symptoms

Bipolar Disorder is an intricate disability that has been the topic of numerous controversies among researchers, as they often come across difficulties in finding accurate means of diagnosis and treatment for it. In spite of the trouble that specialists encounter in dealing with it, "a growing body of literature indicates that psychotherapeutic interventions benefit bipolar clients and have the potential to significantly improve their psychosocial functioning and decrease the substantial social costs of the illness" (Steinkuller, and Rheineck). Although many people tend to underestimate the effects of bipolar disorder because of its milder episodes, it is actually a very severe disease that can have a devastating consequence on the patient.

b. An individual with bipolar disorder can have a normal life that is at times influenced by episodes of extreme low mood or overexcitement, and he or she is unable to control these occurrences. The patient's mood alternates, as he or she can display hopelessness during depressive episodes, ecstasy during manic moments, and increased productivity through using optimism in hypomanic episodes.

2. Causes

There are a series of factors that can be considered to play an important role in triggering bipolar disorder. The patient could have inherited the disease as a result of his or her genes. Similarly, he or she could have experienced an incident or a series of incidents that have had a distressing effect on the brain.

3. History

a. Society's relationship with the disorder

Because of their apparent normalcy, patients suffering from bipolar disorder are difficult to identify. It was not until the recent decades that ordinary people (and public people in particular) started talking about their condition and about how they manage to cope with it. The Bible relates to bipolar disorder and highlights the fact that it is very difficult for an individual to deal with it. In spite of the fact that one can be inclined to lead a pious life, the respective individual can be easily influenced by his physical condition. Romans 8 and Galatians 5 relate to how individuals should focus on controlling their mind by using their spirit rather than by using their flesh.

b.Frequency of occurrence

Although it is less known than schizophrenia, bipolar disorder has been reported to occur in a similar number of patients. Also, when considering that some physicians actually have trouble differentiating between the two, one can come to the conclusion that bipolar disorder can be mistaken for schizophrenia.

4. Controversy

a. Treatment

People suffering from bipolar disorder need to constantly concentrate on repressing the malady's symptoms, as only by doing this will they be able to successfully prevent it from damaging their lives and the lives of people around them. Treatment is not meant to help the individual through difficult moments, as it is expected to assist him or her throughout their lives, so as for them to be able to cope with their misfortunes.