Biopolar

When someone’s mood in an instant can go from being extremely happy to sad or depressed, we initially think something might be wrong. In fact, this is a sign of a disorder called Bipolar Disorder. This disorder can affect both men and women equally and usually starts between the ages of 15-25. Bipolar disorder is usually a genetic disorder, meaning it does not really have a known cause other then it occurs more often in people who have relatives that have this disorder. Bipolar disorder can be very serious and can cause some risky behaviors, and even suicidal tendencies if left untreated. John Doe (J.D.) is a 38-year old architect. He was admitted to the hospital due to dehydration and lack of rest. J.D. was working on a new project for the past 5 days for his mother that had passed a couple weeks ago. He wanted to build and design her dream house, but when his mother passed he became obsessed with this new project for his mother. His mother’s passing had quite an impact on him resulting in working too much. He repeatedly stated with anger and distress, “I need to get back to work to make my mother proud.” One day at work, he had collapsed during a meeting and was rushed to the ER. J.D’s coworkers reported that he would work long hours and not get enough sleep, which caused him to isolate himself from everyone. They reported that with the little or no sleep he had, he was very energetic and was very active. While having to focus on certain tasks or jobs, he bad been getting distracted easily, jumping from task to task and not feeling accomplished. His coworkers also said that he would become aggressive if things didn’t go the way he wanted. His mood swings were dramatically shifted. He spoke rapidly, as if his mouth cannot keep up with his thoughts. When John was a child, he watched his mother suffer from depression and paranoia. He was the eldest of the two kids. His younger brother was known to be a temperamental child. Growing up, John

References: A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia, (2012), PubMed Health-Bipolar Disorder, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001924/ Copstead, L., & Banasik, J. (2010). Pathophysiology. (Fourth ed.). St.Louis: Saunders. Leboyer, M., & Henry, C. (2005, March 15). Pathogenesis of bipolar disorders: genetic vulnerability and environmental factors. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15895950 Medical News Today. (2012, December 24). Brain Imaging Identifies Bipolar Disorder Risk In Adolescents. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/254204.php. WebMD. (2012). Bipolar disorder health center. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/bipolar-disorder-overview-facts