Bipolar Disorder Essays -- Biology Essays Research Papers

Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness affects about 1.2 percent of the U.S. population (8). It is defined by fluctuating states of depression and mania throughout ones life. Those who are depressed may be restless, irritable, have slowed thinking or speech, decreased sexual activity, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, suicidal thoughts as well as other changes. Those in a manic state may have increased activity or energy, more thoughts and faster thinking, grandiose thoughts, decreased sleep and need for sleep, increased sexual activity, elated mood, irritable mood, as well as other symptoms. Mixed state is when both depression and mania are exhibited at the same time in a cycle. Rapid cycling is when episodes occur more than four times a year. This is more prevalent in women and is also more resistant to treatment. There are two forms of bipolar I disorder, bipolar disorder and bipolar II disorder. The difference between the two is that bipolar I disorder is what is typically thought of as bipolar disorder with episodes of severe mania and depression, bipolar II is when the episodes are depression and hypomania, which is milder than a full manic episode. The exact cause of the disease is unclear. The most probable case is that there are many factors that contribute to the disease. The diagnosis of bipolar disorder is not exact. Since there is no physiological test for the disease an assessment must be made physiologically. This is done through the administration of behavioral assessment tests, use of scales, basis of symptoms, course of illness and family history. The diagnosis can be tricky especially when it comes to bipolar II disorder. Many with the disease are misdiagnosed w... ...mhsource.com/pt/p960533.jhtml?_requestid=387992 5) Evening Out the Ups and Downs of Manic-Depressive Illness http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/596_bipo.html 6) Bipolar Disorder http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=23037 7) Bipolar Disorder Research at the National Institute of Mental Health http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolarresfact.cfm 8) Going to Extremes http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/manic.cfm 9) Bipolar Disorder http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolarmenu.cfm 10) The Neurobiology of Depression http://www.sciam.com/missing.cfm 11) Scientists on trail of manic-depression gene http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/mentalh/depress/lhmde002.htm Other Sources 12) "Portrait of the Artist as a Manic-Depressive". Psychology Today. July/August, 1995