Bipolar Disorder :: essays research papers

The phenomenon of bipolar affective disorder has been a mystery since the 16th century.History has shown that this distress can appear in almost anyone. Even the great painterVincent Van Gogh is believed to have had bipolar disorder. It is clear that in our society umpteen people live with bipolar disorder however, despite the abundance of peoplesuffering from the it, we argon still waiting for definite explanations for the causes and cure.The one fact of which we are painfully aware is that bipolar disorder severely underminesits victims ability to obtain and maintain social and occupational success. Because bipolardisorder has such debilitating symptoms, it is imperative form that we remain vigilant in thequest for explanations of its causes and treatment. Affective disorders are characterized by a smorgasbord of symptoms that can bebroken into manic and depressive contingencys. The depressive episodes are characterized byintense feelings of sadness and despair that can become f eelings of hopelessness andhelplessness. Some of the symptoms of a depressive episode include anhedonia,disturbances in sleep and appetite, psycomoter retardation, loss of energy, feelings ofworthlessness, guilt, difficulty thinking, indecision, and continual thoughts of death andsuicide. The manic episodes are characterized by elevated or irritable mood, increasedenergy, decreased need for sleep, poor judgment and insight, and often reckless orirresponsible behavior. bipolar affective disorder affects approximately one percent of thepopulation (approximately three million people) in the United States. It is presented byboth males and females. Bipolar disorder involves episodes of mania and depression.These episodes may alternate with profound depressions characterized by a pervasivesadness, almost inability to move, hopelessness, and disturbances in appetite, sleep, inconcentrations and driving.Bipolar disorder is diagnosed if an episode of mania occurs whether depression hasbeen diagnosed or not. Most commonly, individuals with manic episodes experience aperiod of depression. Symptoms include elated, expansive, or irritable mood,hyperactivity, pressure of speech, flight of ideas, inflated self-importance esteem, decreased need forsleep, distractibility, and excessive involvement in reckless activities . Rarest symptomswere periods of loss of all interest and retardation or agitation.