Bipolar disorder: diagnosis challenges, genetic causes, and psychotherapeutic interventions

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

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.

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Kinsella, Caroline and Kinsella, Connor Introducing Mental Health: A Practical Guide (London: Jessica Kingsley, 2006)

McDougall, Tim "Nursing Children and Adolescents with Bipolar Disorder: Assessment, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management,"Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing 22.1 (2009)

Steinkuller, Andrea and Rheineck, Jane E. "A Review of Evidence-Based Therapeutic Interventions for Bipolar Disorder," Journal of Mental Health Counseling31.4 (2009)

Young, Barbara "The Role of Psychotherapy in the Bipolar Disorders: Dynamic Psychotherapy as an Adjunct to Pharmacotherapy," Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association 13.1 (2010)