Child psychology: a scientific study of developmental changes

Running head: CASE STUDY OF A PATIENT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER
CASE STUDY OF A PATIENT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

CASE STUDY OF A PATIENT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER1
Introduction
Child psychology is a scientific study of developmental changes that considers the
mental, behavioural, and emotional aspects of a child. It is seen mainly at the period of childhood
and adolescence. This term broadly explains about cognitive development, social, and emotional
development. It includes persons thinking, learning, and memorization, interaction with the
family or society, and personality development. Cognitive development describes mental issues,
such as language and problem-solving. Social development deals with the system where
individual promotes relationships and interacts with each other. Emotional development is
concerned with person efforts to handle different situations. However, any of these progressive
changes can produce psychological misbalance in people. It is more susceptible in children and
young adults. Many reasons are responsible for hampering the healthy condition of the mind of
people. Specific factors are the sudden death of a person, genetic basis, stressful situations that
can trigger the risk of some mental illness. Possible treatments are available to treat the patient
with this. Psychotherapy, medication, peer supports and especially person-centred care can be
beneficial to recover and support this type of patients. In this paper, a case study of a young adult
is discussed. From the case study, it is known that Jessica has been gone through some mental
health conditions. Hence, possible primary diagnosis, its challenges and the proper justification
are proposed to provide appropriate treatment to the patient. After that, her problems are
constructed with the consideration of predisposition, source and protective factors that she is
facing currently. Finally, the best treatment is intervened based on her disease formulation and
primary diagnosis, and proper justification is also given related to the chosen treatment
procedure.

CASE STUDY OF A PATIENT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER2
Discussion
Preliminary diagnosis
In the case study, Jessica is facing some problems for 2 yrs. She has rapid mood swings;
one moment she feels low and irritable and then she seems happy and energetic. Nowadays,
Jessica gets angry quickly, often gets involved in arguments and screams at friends, family and
even with school teachers. She then locked herself in a room after this event. Following this
event, and ends with tears. She considers herself as "horrible" and can't understand the reason of
this happenings. She feels sleepy all the time and difficulties to share her feelings. In the end, she
feels lonely and reflected her as a not good human being. By correlating with the symptoms, it is
deliberated that the patient has bipolar disorder. It is a kind of mental illness where the patient
suffers from mood swings, difficulties in sleeping or extra sleeping. The patient gets angry very
quickly and shouts at people, sometimes feels energetic, loses interest from activity. In this
disorder, behavioural changes are seen in the patient. Bipolar disorder is also called manic
depressive illness, bipolar mood disorder, and bipolar affective disorder. Bipolar disorder is
classified into four types- bipolar I, bipolar II, cyclothymic disorder, bipolar disorder not
otherwise specified. This disease is seen in children, adolescents and adults also. The symptoms
vary according to age. Some factors are responsible for causing this disease condition. The
possible reasons are age, gender; hormonal changes along with these scientists also suggest that
other factors are environmental risks which include physical abuse, severe stress, death of a
closed person, daily life problems like money or work problems (Koenders et al., 2015). The
patients go through episodes of mania along with depression that is not a normal condition of

CASE STUDY OF A PATIENT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER3
happiness and sadness like healthy people. Actually, they undergo severe mood swings which
changes time to time (Kupfer, Frank & Ritchey, 2015). It is not the problem of the characteristic
of an individual; its just a disease condition that needs proper treatment.
In this case, the preliminary care that should be followed is - the patient must consult to a
doctor. The doctor may prescribe some tests like blood or urine to examine other symptoms.
Then the doctor may refer her to a mental health professional such as a psychologist or
psychiatrist. It is challenging to analyze the patient as rapid mood changes occur. It's tougher to
treat in children and adolescents. Hence, for Jessica, it is problematic to identify as she has
higher chances to change in behaviour, mood and energy level. The next consideration of
diagnosis is mental health evaluation. In this event, the patient sees a mental health professional
like a psychiatrist or psychologist. They evaluate the patient's mental condition and check for
signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder. After that, the doctor may prescribe her a mood journal.
It is nothing but maintenance of chart where Jessica will note down her moods and the timings of
consistence. The doctor may also suggest keeping a record of her sleeping and eating patterns.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 criteria (DSM-5), the diagnosis
criteria states that the patients who experience at least two years of hypomanic and depressive
mood disorder and symptoms must be present for half of the time and the patient also must not
be without signs more than 2months at a time, then cyclothymic disease is present. In this case
study, the patient has similar feeling compared to these symptoms. Sometimes she feels so
enthusiastic that other persons think she is over, and after that moment, she also feels very low.
Jessica's mother further mentioned that she has this problem since 2yrs. In accordance with these
criteria, another factor that is responsible for developing the disease in the patient is the death of