Psychology

Bipolar disorders have increasingly become an issue of concern especially a time when the incidences of the condition are continuously being reported. The condition deprives those afflicted by the disorder of their joy. The people around the patients such as family members and friends as well as the workmates also face the problem of coping with individuals with bipolar disorder.  Bipolar disorder is can be treated, however, if timely treatment is not provided, the condition tends to worsen.

Definition
Bipolar disorder is a depressive disorder that affects the way the brains of humans function (National Institute of Mental Health, 2008). Also known as bipolar mood disorder, bipolar manic-depressive illness or bipolar affective disorder, the condition causes a shift in the mood, thinking and the behavior from the high extremes to the low extremes of depression (National Institute of Mental Health, 2008). These symptoms may go on for more days or months or years and the effect is so intense often leading to neuro-degeneration.

Causes of Bipolar Disorder
Genetic causes have been blamed on the condition of bipolar disorders (Mayo Clinic, Staff, 2010). Children born of parents who have the disorder are more likely to develop the condition as compared to those who do no have this disorder in their family. Some other causes other than genetic factors such as environmental factors have been identified to be important etiological factors in bipolar disorders (National Institute of Mental Health, 2008).

The human development process particularly the human brain development affects the future structure and the functioning of the brain. The general brain development has been associated with risky behaviors among individuals with bipolar disorders. Evidence on the brain development as a cause of bipolar disorders has been shown by comparing the pattern of the brain development of the children with bipolar disorders with children having multi-dimensional impairments in their brains (National Institute of Mental Health, 2008).

Bipolar Disorder Symptoms
Individuals suffering from bipolar disorder may either experience the symptoms of mania or the symptoms of depression (Rheieck  Steikuller, 2009). Manic symptoms involve the changes in the mood of the afflicted individuals, which can either be high for a long period of time or extremely agitating or irritable mood for a long duration. Depression is also common among individuals with bipolar disorders where they present a number of behaviors showing low self-esteem (National Institute of Mental Health, 2008).

Sleep deprivation is another symptom which can be presented as having very little sleep (National Institute of Mental Health, 2008). The ability of one to achieve all the stages of sleep such as non rapid eye movement (NREM) becomes impossible. Individuals often feel restless and easily get distracted. Individuals may present some of the beliefs that are unrealistic to their own abilities.  They often exhibit some impulsive behaviors that are risky such as, business investment that are involving (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2010).

Bipolar disorders are characterized by depressive moods (Basco, 2006). The individuals with the disorder lose their interests in the activities, which they once enjoyed. One may also lose the interest to sex and start feeling empty and worried. In addition to change in the moods, one starts to have suicidal feelings (Basco, 2006). Bipolar disorder patients start to think about death and suicide. They may progress to commit suicide or attempt to commit suicide. However, before one makes a choice of committing suicide, he or she will start talking matters related to life after death or experiences during and after death.

The sleeping and eating patterns will change drastically (National Institute of Mental Health, 2008). Individuals with bipolar disorders often feel tired and experience problems of concentration. The sleeping patterns as well as their eating style changes. Some lose appetite and grow very weak since the body can no longer get enough energy to sustain the normal life processes.

Treatment
The disorder may be treated through medication or through psychotherapy (Basco, 2006). In medical treatment, mood stabilizing agents are used. Anticonvulsant agents can be used to cure the seizures and help control the moods of the afflicted individuals ((National Institute of Mental Health, 2008). Other medical interventions for treatment of bipolar disorders are atypical antipsychotic mediation. This approach has widely been used to treat the bipolar disorder and is often used with other approaches of medications.

The last category of agents used in the management of bipolar disorder is the antidepressants (Rheieck  Steikuller, 2009). These compounds reduce the chances of developing cyclic symptoms. Examples of agents that are used to treat bipolar disorders include medicines such as olanzapine, risperidone and the aripiprazole (National Institute of Mental Health, 2008).

Talk therapies have also been used in the management of bipolar disorders (Basco, 2006). Talk therapies fall under a broad category of psychotherapeutic interventions in psychiatry. Some of the basic treatments include psychoeducation which involves the helping of the victims recognize the symptoms of the disease and seek early treatment (National Institute of Mental Health, 2008).

Another form of psychotherapeutic intervention is the family based therapy (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2010). This type of condition management helps the afflicted individuals in the recognition of the importance of the loved ones in the family and trying to solve their own problem. Closeness of the family members and constant communication to the person has been shown to be important in the management of the problem.

The other intervention that can be used in the management of bipolar disorders is the cognitive behavioral therapy (National Institute of Mental Health, 2008). In cognitive behavioral therapy, all the negative and harmful thoughts and their corresponding behaviors are altered. Finally there is the interpersonal and the social rhythm therapy, which tries to improve the relationship between individuals with bipolar disorders with others. Through this, people are able cope with the afflicted individuals in carrying out their everyday routines.

In general, this kind of disorder can be prevented by the afflicted individual alone. One needs to get educated about the disorder, check at all times to avoid the stressors in their daily lives and make the choice to feel healthier. The people living with the afflicted individuals can be very important in the improvement of the condition.