Bipolar 1 Disorder: A Psychological Analysis
Bipolar 1 Bipolar 1 disorder, also referred to as manic depression is a mental illness where patients affected experience the manic episode at least once in their lives. A manic episode can be defined as abnormal behavior accompanied by high energy and abnormally an elevated mood that disrupts life for a given period. Additionally, people affected by bipolar 1 disorder can experience depressive episodes. Mostly, there is a pattern cycle which alternates between depressive and manic episodes; in between these episodes, an individual can live a normal life. Anyone can develop bipolar 1 disorder where the majority of patients are said to develop the disease before 50 years. However, people who have an immediate family with bipolar
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1disorder are at a higher risk of developing this disorder. Diagnosis of bipolar 1 disorder can be made during the manic and depression episodes which can last between a few days to several months if not treated. No single factor has been identified to be the cause of this form of the disorder. Like many psychological disorders, bipolar 1 disorder is known to be influenced by sociocultural, psychological and biological factors.
Sociocultural Factors Sociocultural factors influence bipolar 1 disorder, especially family relationships and life events. Low social support and poor family relations predict higher levels of depressive episodes to individuals. The family plays the major role in causing or preventing this form of disorder; they can expose or risk their children’s early course of this disorder. This is through factors such as conflict resolution and whether the family is intact in the eyes of the children (Szegedi, Zhao, & McIntyre, 2013). Moreover, negative life events, for example, a life-threatening illness to a family member causes depressive symptoms to people affected by bipolar 1 disorder. Results have indicated that depression in patients affected by this form of disorder occurred a month after a negative life event happened in the individual’s life. Family discord, life stress, and personality are major contributors in the course of bipolar 1 disorder. People with a family history of this disorder should also seek medical treatment early to reduce the risks of this disorder. This will ensure that such people do not experience severe effects and the episodes are reduced significantly which come with the development of this disorder.
Psychological Factors Like many psychological disorders, bipolar 1 disorder is brought about by psychological factors.
Although there are several domains in psychology associated with bipolar disorder, cognitive dysfunction has been the leading factor causing bipolar disorder. Mainly because changes in cognitive functions onset mood symptoms in people who are higher risks of suffering from Bipolar 1 disorder (Eric, Halari, Cheng, Leung, & Young, 2013). Other aspects of psychological functions that cause bipolar 1 disorder include the theory of mind, empathy, emotion comprehension, and autobiographical memory. However, these aspects have been understudied, and there is no comprehensive and detailed information explaining the relationship between them and bipolar 1 disorder. In most cases, clinicians argue that psychological and environmental factors work together to trigger stress and emotional stability which later result to bipolar disorder. It is, however, essential to recognize, while these factors are responsible for this form of the disorder, every individual reacts differently when subjected to these conditions. Therefore, an individual should visit a doctor for a …show more content…
diagnosis.
Biological Factors Neurochemical, genetic and environmental factors interact at various levels to contribute to the onset and progression of bipolar disorder.
There exist evidence suggesting that genetic factors play a significant role in causing bipolar 1 disorder. Since bipolar 1 disorder can run in the family, it means that gene compositions of a person play a role in causing this disorder. Studies have indicated that about half of those people affected by this form of the disorder have a family member with depression and other mood disorders. Also, further studies are being conducted to determine the genes that are responsible for enhancing this disorder. The current thinking is that malfunction of certain brain chemicals in a specific part of the brain causes this predominant neurobiological disorder (Szegedi, Zhao, & McIntyre, 2013). As a neurobiological disorder, it may remain dormant in the brain or be activated by stressors experienced by an individual in their life. While there is substantial data and evidence relating genetic factors to causing the bipolar 1 disorder, there is no conclusive information on the bipolar disorder’s
roots.
Diagnosis
A doctor diagnoses bipolar 1 disorder by requesting the patient to describe their symptom patterns and the period they have experienced the symptoms. Often, during a manic episode, a person can manifest elevated moods as either irritability or euphoria. Moreover, abnormal behavior may include rapid, uninterrupted loud speech, substance abuse, inflated self-image, and increased energy. People in manic episodes may spend money beyond their means. Also, in severe cases, people can lose touch with reality, becoming delusional and displaying bizarre behavior (Sharma, Persad, Mazmanian, & Karunaratne, 2003). If not treated, manic episodes can last for several months where depression follows, although not in all cases. Sometimes, depressive and manic episodes can occur simultaneously while other times, there are distinct periods of mania and depression alternate in a cycle. On the other hand, depressive episodes include thoughts of suicide, low energy and activity, and loss of pleasure. These episodes can last up to several months, but not more than a year.
Treatment There is no cure for bipolar 1 disorder, but there is treatment provided which enables a person to gain control of the various symptoms and mood swings. Such treatment of bipolar 1 disorder is achieved through drugs such as antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and sometimes sedative-hypnotics are administered. Also, in some cases, antidepressants are administered to people affected by bipolar 1 disorder although they must be thoroughly tested to ensure they do not worsen the manic episodes to some people. These drugs must effectively treat both depressive and manic episodes. In addition, psychosocial interventions such as cognitive therapy and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) should be incorporated in the treatment process to increase efficiency (Rea, & Miklowitz, 2003). This will ensure that these episodes are treated and prevented from recurring which is important to a person. People affected by bipolar 1disorder are advised to take their medicine continuously and attend therapy sessions regularly to lower the risks of episode reoccurrence.
Conclusion
In summary, the bipolar 1 disorder is a severe mental illness, which requires professional attention to help address the problem. Essentially, due to the fact that the episodes experienced by people affected by this disorder can cause major life disruptions. For instance, a person can spend all the family fortune or have unwanted pregnancies if the episodes continue for an extended period without treatment. Bipolar 1 disorder is a subtype of bipolar disorder with several symptoms of manic and depressive episodes. Chemical changes that occur in the brain and lead to bipolar 1 disorder are said to be influenced by psychological, social and biological factors. This form of disorder affects daily functioning of an individual with cause significant social problems. Although there is no specific cure, there are treatments administered by experts to help reduce the risks of the known episodes. Also, therapy sessions are used to make sure that a person can control the mood swings and the alternating mania and depression episodes. Although there are no known preventive measures for this disorder, effective treatment and therapy can significantly help the people affected.
References
Eric, Y. W., Halari, R., Cheng, K. M., Leung, S. K., & Young, A. H. (October 01, 2013). Cognitive performance is impaired in euthymic Chinese patients with Bipolar 1 Disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 151, 1, 156-163.
Rea, M. M., & Miklowitz, D. J. (January 01, 2003). Family-focused treatment versus individual treatment for bipolar disorder: Results of a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 71, 3, 482-492.
Sharma, V., Persad, E., Mazmanian, D., & Karunaratne, K. (January 01, 2003). Treatment of rapid cycling bipolar disorder with combination therapy of valproate and lithium. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 137-139.
Szegedi, A., Zhao, J., & McIntyre, R. S. (September 25, 2013). Early improvement as a predictor of acute treatment outcome in manic or mixed episodes in bipolar-1 disorder: A pooled, post hoc analysis from the asenapine development program. Journal of Affective Disorders, 150, 3, 745-752.
1disorder are at a higher risk of developing this disorder. Diagnosis of bipolar 1 disorder can be made during the manic and depression episodes which can last between a few days to several months if not treated. No single factor has been identified to be the cause of this form of the disorder. Like many psychological disorders, bipolar 1 disorder is known to be influenced by sociocultural, psychological and biological factors.
Sociocultural Factors Sociocultural factors influence bipolar 1 disorder, especially family relationships and life events. Low social support and poor family relations predict higher levels of depressive episodes to individuals. The family plays the major role in causing or preventing this form of disorder; they can expose or risk their children’s early course of this disorder. This is through factors such as conflict resolution and whether the family is intact in the eyes of the children (Szegedi, Zhao, & McIntyre, 2013). Moreover, negative life events, for example, a life-threatening illness to a family member causes depressive symptoms to people affected by bipolar 1 disorder. Results have indicated that depression in patients affected by this form of disorder occurred a month after a negative life event happened in the individual’s life. Family discord, life stress, and personality are major contributors in the course of bipolar 1 disorder. People with a family history of this disorder should also seek medical treatment early to reduce the risks of this disorder. This will ensure that such people do not experience severe effects and the episodes are reduced significantly which come with the development of this disorder.
Psychological Factors Like many psychological disorders, bipolar 1 disorder is brought about by psychological factors.
Although there are several domains in psychology associated with bipolar disorder, cognitive dysfunction has been the leading factor causing bipolar disorder. Mainly because changes in cognitive functions onset mood symptoms in people who are higher risks of suffering from Bipolar 1 disorder (Eric, Halari, Cheng, Leung, & Young, 2013). Other aspects of psychological functions that cause bipolar 1 disorder include the theory of mind, empathy, emotion comprehension, and autobiographical memory. However, these aspects have been understudied, and there is no comprehensive and detailed information explaining the relationship between them and bipolar 1 disorder. In most cases, clinicians argue that psychological and environmental factors work together to trigger stress and emotional stability which later result to bipolar disorder. It is, however, essential to recognize, while these factors are responsible for this form of the disorder, every individual reacts differently when subjected to these conditions. Therefore, an individual should visit a doctor for a …show more content…
diagnosis.
Biological Factors Neurochemical, genetic and environmental factors interact at various levels to contribute to the onset and progression of bipolar disorder.
There exist evidence suggesting that genetic factors play a significant role in causing bipolar 1 disorder. Since bipolar 1 disorder can run in the family, it means that gene compositions of a person play a role in causing this disorder. Studies have indicated that about half of those people affected by this form of the disorder have a family member with depression and other mood disorders. Also, further studies are being conducted to determine the genes that are responsible for enhancing this disorder. The current thinking is that malfunction of certain brain chemicals in a specific part of the brain causes this predominant neurobiological disorder (Szegedi, Zhao, & McIntyre, 2013). As a neurobiological disorder, it may remain dormant in the brain or be activated by stressors experienced by an individual in their life. While there is substantial data and evidence relating genetic factors to causing the bipolar 1 disorder, there is no conclusive information on the bipolar disorder’s
roots.
Diagnosis
A doctor diagnoses bipolar 1 disorder by requesting the patient to describe their symptom patterns and the period they have experienced the symptoms. Often, during a manic episode, a person can manifest elevated moods as either irritability or euphoria. Moreover, abnormal behavior may include rapid, uninterrupted loud speech, substance abuse, inflated self-image, and increased energy. People in manic episodes may spend money beyond their means. Also, in severe cases, people can lose touch with reality, becoming delusional and displaying bizarre behavior (Sharma, Persad, Mazmanian, & Karunaratne, 2003). If not treated, manic episodes can last for several months where depression follows, although not in all cases. Sometimes, depressive and manic episodes can occur simultaneously while other times, there are distinct periods of mania and depression alternate in a cycle. On the other hand, depressive episodes include thoughts of suicide, low energy and activity, and loss of pleasure. These episodes can last up to several months, but not more than a year.
Treatment There is no cure for bipolar 1 disorder, but there is treatment provided which enables a person to gain control of the various symptoms and mood swings. Such treatment of bipolar 1 disorder is achieved through drugs such as antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and sometimes sedative-hypnotics are administered. Also, in some cases, antidepressants are administered to people affected by bipolar 1 disorder although they must be thoroughly tested to ensure they do not worsen the manic episodes to some people. These drugs must effectively treat both depressive and manic episodes. In addition, psychosocial interventions such as cognitive therapy and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) should be incorporated in the treatment process to increase efficiency (Rea, & Miklowitz, 2003). This will ensure that these episodes are treated and prevented from recurring which is important to a person. People affected by bipolar 1disorder are advised to take their medicine continuously and attend therapy sessions regularly to lower the risks of episode reoccurrence.
Conclusion
In summary, the bipolar 1 disorder is a severe mental illness, which requires professional attention to help address the problem. Essentially, due to the fact that the episodes experienced by people affected by this disorder can cause major life disruptions. For instance, a person can spend all the family fortune or have unwanted pregnancies if the episodes continue for an extended period without treatment. Bipolar 1 disorder is a subtype of bipolar disorder with several symptoms of manic and depressive episodes. Chemical changes that occur in the brain and lead to bipolar 1 disorder are said to be influenced by psychological, social and biological factors. This form of disorder affects daily functioning of an individual with cause significant social problems. Although there is no specific cure, there are treatments administered by experts to help reduce the risks of the known episodes. Also, therapy sessions are used to make sure that a person can control the mood swings and the alternating mania and depression episodes. Although there are no known preventive measures for this disorder, effective treatment and therapy can significantly help the people affected.
References
Eric, Y. W., Halari, R., Cheng, K. M., Leung, S. K., & Young, A. H. (October 01, 2013). Cognitive performance is impaired in euthymic Chinese patients with Bipolar 1 Disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 151, 1, 156-163.
Rea, M. M., & Miklowitz, D. J. (January 01, 2003). Family-focused treatment versus individual treatment for bipolar disorder: Results of a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 71, 3, 482-492.
Sharma, V., Persad, E., Mazmanian, D., & Karunaratne, K. (January 01, 2003). Treatment of rapid cycling bipolar disorder with combination therapy of valproate and lithium. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 137-139.
Szegedi, A., Zhao, J., & McIntyre, R. S. (September 25, 2013). Early improvement as a predictor of acute treatment outcome in manic or mixed episodes in bipolar-1 disorder: A pooled, post hoc analysis from the asenapine development program. Journal of Affective Disorders, 150, 3, 745-752.