Bipolar Disorder and Society Essays

Bipolar Disorder and Society Essays Bipolar Disorder and Society Paper Bipolar Disorder and Society Paper Depression has been known to be a leading cause of disability in the world, because depressive moods can hinder someone from acting normally and thus hindering the capabilities to be productive (Fink, 2007). It may be considered normal for human beings to have mood swings. For women it may even be worse especially when they have their monthly period, as hormones generally affect their emotions. But when the mood swings start to get abnormal in frequency and sequence there may already be a disorder, in this case bipolar disorder or mania. It is characterized by heightened mood, hyperactivity, restlessness and extreme depression to the point of distorted judgment. Individuals with this disorder acts in a very different manner than their usual ways, and the onset of the syndrome is slow and gradual, taking weeks or months before it is considered complete (Belmaker, 2004). Bipolarity is a very distinct disorder that has many names across different cultures all over the world. Manic is only one term, insane may also be one view of society towards individuals with this disorder, because it leads to a person acting beyond the normal. This may affect not only how an individual is viewed by society, but also how that individual interacts with another person and with society as a whole. As such, this paper aims to look deeper into the different aspects of the disorder including its history, symptoms experienced by patients suffering the disease, the factors that influence the occurrence of the disease, and treatments that are discovered in order to prevent worsening of the syndrome. In regards the treatments, this may include some therapies or medication that this paper shall try to present and explore. This may help to find out the different effects of bipolar disorder of those suffering from it and those surrounding the patient. Bipolar Syndrome As earlier mentioned, bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by an irregularity of moods. It may make a shift from a heightened happiness to extreme depression or lonesomeness. Even a single episode of mania or extreme depression may be a symptom of bipolar disorder (Belmaker, 2004). But not all depressive moods characterize bipolar disorder. Some depressive moods may be induced by intake of substances if not are naturally occurring. If the depression is caused by intake of medication or any certain drugs, it is not considered as bipolarity but classified as substance induced mood disorder. If it was due to a medical condition that may have been affecting the brain, it is considered as a mood disorder due to a general medical condition. Naturally occurring extreme depression is thus symptomatic of Bipolar Syndrome alone (First et al, 2002). History the Disorder Bipolar Disorder is a very old disease although it was not recognized before as it is now. It was Aretaeus of Cappadociam who first recognized the existence of both manic and depressive moods but it was only these days that this existence was given a name. Following this is a book written by Richard Burton, titled The Anatomy of Melancholia. As the title implies, it tackled the subject melancholy or what is called today as depression. Then a French researcher proposed that suicide and depression are related, that there is also a relationship between a manic state and depression and that there may be a disorder called manic-depressive disorder (Bloch and Naser, 2006). Following this research is another Frenchman’s proposal. Francois Baillarger proposed that Bipolar disorder is different from schizophrenia and that its symptoms are distinct from that of the latter mentioned. He called the disorder as double-insanity. This study is further upheld by a German researcher, Emil Krapelin who proposed ideas regarding manic depression. The ideas contained the symptoms and guiding principles that are generally the ones still being used in the diagnosis and research of Bipolar Disorder today (Bloch and Naser, 2006). Symptoms Bipolar syndrome is categorized as Bipolar I and Bipolar II depending mainly on the severity of the mania or depression. Bipolar I is usually differentiated from Bipolar II as the level of depression that occurs in patients suffering from it is considered mild. As compared to Cyclothymic Disorder, Bipolar I is characterized by manic episodes, and a major depressive episode. It may be diagnosed if the interchanging episodes happen after two years at the least of having Cyclothymic Disorder (First et al, 2002). When compared with psychotic disorders, Bipolar I stands out as it does not present any psychotic symptoms that are not induced by known mood symptoms. It may only be diagnosed based on manic episodes induced by chronic psychotic disorder (First et al, 2002). Bipolar II on the other hand, is characterized by mood episodes not induced by medical conditions that may be affecting the brain. It is also diagnosed when the depressive moods or mania is not induced by substances or drugs taken into the body. Another characteristic of Bipolar II are occurring hypomanic episodes that may be diagnosed neither as Major Depressive Disorder nor Dysthymic Disorder. It may also be distinguished from Psychotic Disorders if there are periods of psychotic symptoms induced by known mood symptoms. When compared with Bipolar I, Bipolar II may be distinguish by the absence of Manic or Mixed episode. Mixed episodes are occurring mood episodes in which there is heightened happiness suddenly switching to extreme depression or sadness (First et al, 2002). Course of the Disorder As mentioned on the earlier part of the paper, the onset of Bipolar disorder, either I or II, on an individual happens gradually or slowly until is completion, during which an individual experiences the symptoms given (Belmaker, 2004). It is a curable disease which worsens over time if not tended to. From simple episodes of mania and depression it may progress into frequently occurring symptoms. These frequent episodes may gradually increase in severity and may soon include Psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, or delusions that are relative to the mood of the individual in a certain moment. For instance, there may be a hallucination of an extravagant event or thing when the patient is in a heightened mood or there may be a delusion when the patient is depressed and low. These things may become severe in the course of time and due to the severity of the disease, the symptoms that accompany it also becomes severe leading to some individuals to become a danger to the people surrounding him and even to himself (Zimney, 2008). As in the case presented by Cohen et al (2008) where a woman who had a history of Bipolar Disorder and is under maintained medication decided to have a child. Under the prescription of her psychiatrists she stopped taking her medicines and soon she got pregnant, during which she experienced episodes of anxiety, insomnia and the other symptoms of her disorder. Doctors started to suggest for her to get back to her medication but she declined as it might harm the child she was carrying and may affect her planned breastfeeding. Because of this, she continued experiencing Bipolar Disorder-related episodes and it affected her pregnancy. She had to undergo caesarian section because of premature labor that was induced by her episodes. After the delivery, she seemed to have been back to normal but eventually symptoms of her illness started and they were worse than they were before she got pregnant and was under medication. Because of this, the patient was put under another observation and was found that other than her record showing bipolar sickness, there was a history of the same disease in the family (Cohen et al, 2008). They have found that she had relatives who had severe mood disorders and one was even driven to suicide and died. The same almost happened to the woman. Due to the discontinuation of maintenance medications, she had recurrent hallucinations and even tried to hurt her child. With this, she decided to discontinue breastfeeding and was advised not to have more children after (Cohen et al, 2008). With this study, it may be said that Bipolar Disorder is manageable through intake of medication. Discontinuation of treatment medicines may be said to affect the state of the patient suffering from the disease more so when left completely neglected (Cohen et al, 2008). This is why bipolar female patients becoming pregnant still pose a huge matter for researchers concentrating on treatments for the syndrome. As may be seen in the case presented some drugs or medication for treatment of the disease may be harmful for a child inside a bipolar mother, resulting to the mother having to stop maintenance drugs and thus inducing episodes symptomatic of the disorder. It also became a risk for the disease to progress into a more severe level since, discontinuation of treatment and medicines is almost equal to neglect of the situation (Cohen et al, 2008). This also shows that Bipolar Disorder may be inherited or may be passed within members of a family, as the patient indicated to have had a relative who died from suicide induced by hallucinations that entail the disease at its worse level. Treatments of the Disorder There are many known treatment of bipolar disorder. There are medications or medicines that are prescribed by doctors to patients in accordance to the severity of their condition and to the symptoms relative to the disease that manifests in them. Psychiatrists may recommend drugs that prevent mania, hypomania or antidepressant drugs depending on the mood of the patient. Doctors may recommend mania-preventive drugs or anti-depressant drugs to patients depending mainly on the recurrent mood of the patient. They may also give mood stabilizers that a patient may take in on the onset of mania or depression. Antipsychotic agents may also be administered when called for (Mann, 2005). There are also therapies that are recommended to patients in order to help them manage and treat their illness. They may suggest regular psychosocial interventions or psychotherapy that includes monitoring of responses, the checking of outcomes of past therapies or treatments, and education of parties involved especially of parents with children suffering from the disorder. The therapies have three phases, the acute, continuation and maintenance phase. The treatment and therapy varies in accordance to the phase (Mann, 2005). Society, Culture and the Disease Although bipolar disorder is a leading cause of disability in the world, there are still some countries that do not generally accept this concept. The culture from which they grew up in influences their beliefs and reactions toward the disease. It also influences the treatment of the disease, the interaction between patients, the effects of the symptoms, and even how the symptoms are reported (Kleinman, 2004). For instance the Chinese people do not recognize depression as a term or condition of a person or an individual. The country from which they belong denies the existence of this predicament in their culture. This becomes a problem especially for the Chinese immigrants in countries that recognized bipolar disorder as disease. As soon as a person shows signs of developing Bipolar disorder it may only be seen as normal so rather than be given appropriate treatment, the patient’s condition may become worse (Kleinman, 2004). Sometimes even when it is the culture or the society that becomes the risk factor for the development of the diseases, as in the case of war-related acquisition of bipolar disorder, or post-trauma induced bipolar cases, it is still denied and left without proper treatment (Kleinman, 2004). Conclusion Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that have been long existing but only denied by some nations worldwide. It is a leading cause for disabilities and some deaths. It has a number of symptoms including sudden manic moods shifting to depressive moods. Sometimes it also entails psychotic symptoms. But Bipolar disorder is a curable and manageable disease. Many studies have been conducted in order to check on the risk factors of the disease and from there develop a cure. But some countries do not accept this cure for the disease, even when sometimes it is the culture that is the cause of the disease. Thus it may be said that the society and the culture being practiced influences the disease greatly, that views on patients and patients’ views on society, whether positive or negative is affected in more ways than one. References Belmaker, R. H. MD (2004). Bipolar Disorder. The New England Journal of Medicine 351(5). Bloch, J. P, Nser, J. A. (2006). The Everything Health Guide to Adult Bipolar Disorder: Reassuring Advice to Help You Cope. USA: Everything Books. Cohen, L. S MD. , Emmerich, A. D. MD. , Viguera, A. C. MD. (2008). Case 24-2008: A 35-Year-Old Woman with Postpartum Confusion, Agitation, and Delusions. The New England Journal of Medicine 359(5). First, M. B, Frances, A. Pincus, H. A. (2002). DSM-IV-TR Handbook of Differential Diagnosis. USA: American Psychiatric Pub. Fink, M. , Taylor, A. M. , (2007). Melancholia: The Diagnosis, Pathophysiology, and Treatment of Depressive Illness. The New England Journal of Medicine 356(6). Kleinman, A. MD. (2004). Culture and Depression. The New England Journal of Medicine 351(10). Mann, J. J. (2005). Management of Depression. The New England Journal of Medicine 353(17). Zimney, E. MD. (2008). Bipolar Disorder. HealthTalk Retrieved November 20, 2008 from http://www2. healthtalk. com/go/mental-health/bipolar-disorder/disease-basics/how-does-bipolar-disorder-progress