Bipolar Disorder: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
This paper provides a comprehensive overview of bipolar disorder (BD), also known as manic depressive illness, which affects nearly six million American adults. The paper examines the biological, genetic, and environmental causes of the condition, including differences in brain structure and function, hereditary factors, and the role of stress and trauma. It outlines the distinguishing symptoms of mania and depression, explains the DSM-based diagnostic categories, and reviews treatment approaches — including medication, patient education, and physiotherapy. The paper concludes with practical prevention strategies aimed at reducing the severity and recurrence of bipolar episodes.
- Introduction: Overview of bipolar disorder and its scope
- Causes of Bipolar Disorder: Brain structure, genetics, stress, and trauma
- Signs and Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder: Manic and depressive symptom lists
- Diagnosis: DSM categories and diagnostic process
- Treatment: Medication, education, and physiotherapy approaches
- Prevention and Conclusion: Precautions and summary of key points
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper follows a logical, clinical structure — moving from causes to symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention — which makes complex medical content easy to follow.
- It draws on credible, named sources (NIMH, DSM, peer-reviewed texts) and integrates direct quotations to support key claims, demonstrating appropriate academic citation practice.
- The use of organized lists for symptoms and prevention measures improves readability and mirrors the structured format expected in health science writing.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper effectively synthesizes information from multiple authoritative sources — government health agencies, clinical handbooks, and published academic texts — to build a coherent, evidence-based overview. Rather than relying on a single source, the author triangulates across sources (e.g., NIMH, Preston and White, Leonard and Jovinelly) to validate claims about causes, diagnosis, and treatment, which is a hallmark of competent undergraduate research writing.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a general introduction to mood disorders before narrowing to bipolar disorder specifically. It then proceeds through clearly labeled sections on causes (brain structure, genetics, stress/trauma), symptoms (mania vs. depression), diagnosis (DSM categories), treatment (medication, education, physiotherapy), and prevention. A brief conclusion recaps the condition's chronic nature and the importance of ongoing management. The structure is encyclopedic and well-organized, suitable as a foundational overview of the topic.
Introduction
Every human being is susceptible to mood changes, sometimes feeling happy and energetic, and other times feeling melancholic and miserable. However, a persistent feeling of sadness and hopelessness is a mood disorder known as depression, which is very common and requires medical attention. In the nineteenth century, Abraham Lincoln was so depressed that he described himself as "the most miserable man living" (Leonard and Jovinelly, 2012). Leonard and Jovinelly go on to describe bipolar disorder, also referred to as manic depressive illness, as the most complex type of depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, 2015), nearly six million American adults suffer from this disorder.
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a condition characterized by drastic changes in energy and mood that are often unrelated to prevailing circumstances. The condition causes a person's mood to alternate between two extreme emotional states: mania and depression (Leonard and Jovinelly, 2012). Depression makes the person feel low and become withdrawn from others, while a manic state makes them extremely active — both physically and mentally. However, BD patients struggle with depressive symptoms more than they struggle with symptoms caused by elevations in their mood (Ketter, 2012). This paper examines bipolar disorder in detail, covering its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention in both children and adults.
Causes of Bipolar Disorder
The Functioning and Structure of the Brain
For a long time, scientists have tried to establish the causes of BD. Recent brain imaging technologies — including, but not limited to, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) — have made it possible for doctors to monitor bipolar disorder in the brain. Researchers have established that the structure and functioning of the brain in a BD patient differs from that of a person without the condition. For example, one MRI study revealed similarities in brain development between children with multi-dimensional impairment and children with BD, which causes symptoms to overlap and leads to mood swings (NIMH, 2015). The prefrontal cortex — the brain structure involved in decision-making and problem-solving — has also been found to be smaller in BD patients and to function at a reduced capacity. Preston and White (2009) also note that the brain's biochemistry plays a significant role in BD due to the unstable transmission of nerve impulses.
Genetics
Studies have found that BD has a genetic component. Children with a family history of BD are more likely to develop the condition than those whose parents or siblings have never had it. However, the National Institute of Mental Health (2015) notes that not all children with a family history of BD will necessarily acquire the condition as they grow up.
Trauma and Stress
The most common triggers of BD symptoms among adults are stress and lack of sleep. Strenuous activities not accompanied by adequate rest are likely to cause mood elevation. According to Preston and White (2009), trauma experienced during childhood can hasten the onset of severe BD.
Signs and Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
The following are the signs and symptoms of BD (White and Preston, 2009; NIMH, 2015):
Mania
Symptoms of mania include: persistent feelings of irritability and grandiosity; restlessness and high levels of energy without feeling tired; increased sexual drive; feelings of great or supernatural abilities; extreme intrusiveness and a heightened sense of irritability; extreme feelings of happiness and euphoria; lack of concentration and easy distractibility; and impulsive behavior.
Depression
Symptoms of depression include: feelings of hopelessness; suicidal thoughts; feelings of melancholy and anxiousness; lack of concentration along with changes in sleep patterns and appetite; a pessimistic attitude and loss of interest in once-enjoyable activities; lack of self-worth and feelings of emptiness; and fatigue or a sense of being slowed down.
References
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, DBSA. (2015). What is Bipolar Disorder? Retrieved 26 January 2015 from http://www.dbsahouston.org/what-is-bipolar-disorder/
Ketter, T. A. (Ed.). (2010). Handbook of Diagnosis and Treatment of Bipolar Disorders. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.
Leonard, B., & Jovinelly, J. (2012). Understanding Brain Diseases and Disorders: Bipolar Disorder. New York, NY: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2015). What is Bipolar Disorder? Retrieved 26 January 2015 from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml#part5
White, R. C., & Preston, J. D. (2009). Bipolar 101: A Practical Guide to Identifying Triggers, Managing Medications, Coping with Symptoms and More. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
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