Bipolar Disorder: Symptoms, Types, Effects, and Treatment Options

This report provides an overview of bipolar disorder, a mental illness characterized by shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. It discusses the symptoms, including manic and depressive episodes, and the impact on daily life. The report outlines the different types of bipolar disorder, such as Bipolar I and II disorders, and cyclothymia, along with the associated symptoms and potential activity limitations. It also mentions the possibility of community or outpatient treatment and, in some cases, involuntary admission. The report references key sources and offers a clear understanding of this complex condition. This report is designed to help students learn about the symptoms, types, and management of bipolar disorder.

Running head: BIPOLAR DISORDER
BIPOLAR DISORDER
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Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness, which involves shifts in moods ranging from
depression to mania. It is a brain disorder that is also known as maniac depressive illness
(Miklowitz et al., 2013). People with bipolar disorder experience different symptoms like shifts
in someone’s mood, lack of energy, low motivation, lack of sleep and capability to complete
simple daily tasks. These are the key symptoms that are associated with bipolar disorder victims.
These symptoms can last for days or even go up to months. (National institute of mental health,
2016). People having a maniac episode may feel elated, can suffer from sleeping disorders, can
become agitated, face sleeping disorders, becomes hyperactive than the usual. People with
depression episodes may feel extremely down or hopeless, face troubles in concentrating, feeling
suicidal. Bipolar victims sometimes go through suicidal thoughts and that’s meanly because they
feel low, sad and hopeless. There are four basic types of bipolar disorders involving clear
changes in energy, mood and activity levels. Bipolar I Disorder- If the maniac episodes lasts for
at least 7 days, or the symptoms are so severe that a person might require a hospitalization.
Bipolar II Disorder, which shows episodes of Hypomania and depression, although not a full
blown maniac. Cyclothymia can last for about 2 years. It is defined by several periods of
depression and hypomania. Potential activity limitation associated with bipolar disorder may
include the following: mood swings, anger, self harm, depression, difficulty falling asleep might
even loss or gain weight. This can lead to widrawal from family and friends. They feel low or
hopeless and potentially lose interests in activities, which once appeared to be interesting or
pleasant for them. In case of bipolar disorder participation restriction is sometimes required.
Although community or outpatient treatment is always better, sometimes admission of the

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patient without his consent is done to ensure safety of the patient and the family and avoid
impaired judgments associated with the illness (National institute of mental heath, 2016).

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Reference
Duffy, A., Horrocks, J., Doucette, S., Keown-Stoneman, C., McCloskey, S., & Grof, P. (2014).
The developmental trajectory of bipolar disorder. The British Journal of
Psychiatry, 204(2), 122-128.
http://www.sciencedirect.com.ez.library.latrobe.edu.au/science/article/pii/S0165032715000786
Miklowitz, D. J., Schneck, C. D., Singh, M. K., Taylor, D. O., George, E. L., Cosgrove, V. E., ... &
Chang, K. D. (2013). Early intervention for symptomatic youth at risk for bipolar disorder: a
randomized trial of family-focused therapy. Journal of the American Academy of Child &
Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(2), 121-131.
National institute of mental heath. (2016). Bipolar disorder. Retrieved from
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml