Bipolar is a word that people have used a lot, but in the wrong definition. For example, when a person has a fight with their significant other and then their significant other gets over it and is happy, people would call her bipolar, this is not the case. Bipolar disorder is not that fast, it is over time, there is the highs, manic, and the lows, depression. According to DSM-IV and ICD-10, divides bipolar disorder into at least two subtypes. Bipolar type I disorder, the most classical form, is characterized by a succession of manic or mixed states with depressive episodes. The course of bipolar type II disorder is similar but more unstable in course, where depression alternates with hypomania (Burke, 2012, 159-166).
Bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes strange shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out everyday tasks, which can hinder the individual's ability to function in ordinary life. Bipolar disorder symptoms are severe. They are different from the normal ups and downs that people go through from time to time. Bipolar disorder symptoms can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. But bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives. Treatment commonly includes mood stabilizing medication and psychotherapy (Smith & Segal, 2009).
Bipolar type I disorder, the most classical form, is characterized by a succession of manic or mixed states with depressive episodes. The course of bipolar type II disorder is similar but more unstable in course, where depression alternates with hypomania (Thomas, 2004).
There two subtypes of bipolar II disorder, namely, hypomanic and depressed episode. During a manic episode, a person might impulsively makes decisions. During a depressive episode, the same person might will heavily regret the decisions he made in the manic episode. In the manic phase of bipolar disorder, a person with bipolar disorder will have feelings of heightened energy, creativity, and euphoria, they often talk a mile a minute, sleep very little, and are hyperactive. They may also feel like they’re all-powerful, invincible, or destined for greatness (Stafford, 2009).
Bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives. Firstly, bipolar is treated with mood stabilizing medication, as a first choice. The medication can be prescribed by a psychiatrist. Not everyone responds to medications in the same way. Therefore several different medications may need to be tried before the best course of treatment is found. A person suffering or presumed to suffer from bipolar should at least keep a chart of daily mood symptoms, treatments, sleep patterns, and life events in order to help the doctor track and treat the illness most effectively, so that if the symptoms change or if side effects become serious, the doctor may switch or add medications. Medications used for mood stabilizers include Lithium (sometimes known as Eskalith or Lithobid), Valproic acid or divalproex sodium (Depakote), anticonvulsant lamotrigine (Lamictal), gabapentin (Neurontin), topi-ramate (Topamax), and oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) (Mary, 2014).
Secondly, bipolar is treated by the use of psychological treatment, although we have medication, particularly lithium, it seems necessary to have psychological treatment for bipolar. It is also important to have psychological interventions to manage ‘causes’ of bipolar, such as interpersonal and practical problems (i.e. marital job difficulties). Individuals in a manic sate are likely to refuse to take medication treatment. Clarkin, Carpenter, Hull, Wilner and Glick (1998) evaluated the advantages of psychological treatment to medication in patients and it was discovered that psychological treatment improved adherence to medication to all patients and resulted to better overall outcomes for most severe patients compared to medication alone (NIMH).
Family therapy to a drug regimen and it was reported that an increase in the percentage of patients with bipolar disorder who fully recovered (56%) over those who had drug treatment alone (20%). In a two year follow up study of patients with bipolar who had drug treatment alone. Family tension is associated with relapse in bipolar disorder. Family focussed treatment in combination with medication results in significantly less relapse one year following initiation treatment than patients receiving crises management and medication over the same period of time (Mary, 2014).
Bipolar disorder is more common in people who have a blood relative (such as a sibling or parent) with the condition, as it tends to run on families, therefore the degree relatives of people with bipolar disorder are likely to develop bipolar disorder. Identical twins are more likely to develop bipolar disorder as compared to fraternal twins. However, this does not necessarily mean that a child from a family with a history of bipolar disorder will develop the disorder. For example, a person who has a family history of diabetes may not develop diabetes if they are careful with what they eat and exercise enough (Craddock, 1999).
Environmental Factors in Bipolar Disorder
A life event may trigger a mood episode in a person with a genetic disposition for bipolar disorder. Health habits, alcohol or drug abuse, or hormonal problems can trigger an episode. Among those at risk for the illness, bipolar disorder is appearing at increasingly early ages (Smith & Segal, 2009). Although substance abuse is not considered a cause of bipolar disorder, it can worsen the illness by interfering with recovery. Use of alcohol or tranquilizers may induce a more severe depressive phase. Abuse, mental stress, a "significant loss", or some other traumatic event may contribute towards bipolar disorder risk. Traumatic events may include the death of a loved one, losing your job, the birth of a child, or moving house (Mary, 2014).
In conclusion, we can conclude that according to the interviews conducted, that most people are aware of the diagnosis of bipolar even though they do not fully understand about the disorder. In accordance with the interviews conducted and were critically compared to the actual facts about bipolar. The interviews show that most of people know that the disorder is related to mental stability, mood swings, and depression, but they are not aware that the disorder has two types. They also know that medication is one of the treatment measures, but they are not mindful about other treatment measures. We can conclude that the is still a need to teach people about the bipolar disorder, especially in regards to the treatment, causes, prevention measures as well as the symptoms of bipolar.