University Psychology Assignment: Exploring Mood Disorders in Depth

This psychology assignment delves into the complexities of mood disorders, examining factors that contribute to treatment resistance in bipolar disorder, such as misdiagnosis, poor patient compliance, and substance use. It explores how individuals with bipolar disorder perceive and manage their illness, suggesting that with effective management, a productive life is attainable. The assignment further investigates the differences in bipolar disorder symptoms between children/adolescents and adults, highlighting the increased frequency and intensity of mood swings in younger populations. It also addresses the challenges in diagnosing bipolar disorder in children due to overlapping symptoms with other disorders and developmental factors. The author emphasizes the importance of considering a child's developmental environment and family background for accurate diagnosis.

Running head: MOOD DISORDERS
MOOD DISORDERS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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What are some aspects of a manic episode that might lead a person to be resistant toward
treatment? Is it possible that someone can experience a manic episode and maintain a
productive lifestyle without seeking professional help? Why or why not?
The severity of bipolar disorder and the degree of response to treatment are generally considered
to be predominantly due to genetic or other endogenous reasons. There are several non-
biological factors which may often contribute to the resistance to treatment. Some of the factors
which contribute to the treatment resistance in bipolar disorder are:
a) Inability to identify soft hypomanic symptoms.
b) Incorrect diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
c) Incorrect recognition of bipolar disorder phase.
d) Failure of patient in providing prior treatment records and use of collateral sources.
e) Poor patient compliance.
f) Concurrent use of alcohol or other substances.
g) Concurrent use of destabilizing medication, which may be psychiatric or non-psychiatric
in nature.
h) Concurrent acute or chronic medical illness.
i) Inadequate medical supervision and medical trial supplied by treatment provider.
j) Limiting treatment choices to ‘evidence-based’ medications only.
k) High initial dose or rapid increase of medicinal dosage (Hui Poon, Sim, & J Baldessarini,
2015).
From research done by Jönsson et al. (2008), patients of bipolar disorder and manic disorder
view the illness roughly under four themes: accepting the illness, being insecure in oneself,
striving for understanding, and managing the illness. These are the four consecutive stages which

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a patient goes through when dealing with the disorder. In conclusion, once the patient accepts the
consequences and effects of bipolar disorder in their lives and learns to manage the manic
episodes, it is possible for them to lead a productive life (Jönsson et al., 2008).
How do the symptoms of bipolar disorder differ in children and adolescents from adults?
How are the symptoms of bipolar disorder similar to those of other disorders in children, a
problem that might create confusion for diagnosing? Do you think physicians and mental
health professionals do an adequate job distinguishing bipolar disorders from other
disorders in children? Why or why not?
The World Federation for Mental Health has stated that Childhood – Onset Bipolar
Spectrum Disorder is quite different than the one diagnosed in adults (Merikangas et al., 2011).
Children and adolescents experience mood swings and anxiety just like adults with the same
disorder but the intensity and frequency are much more heightened. Those phases, which are
much less frequent in adults, appear in children and adolescents multiple times a day with high
intensity. Another crucial difference in the symptoms of bipolar disorder in childhood is the
appearance of mixed traits. While adults are usually identified to feel either restless or agitated,
experience high energy or feel completely down and demotivated and experience a constant
sense of worthlessness, children can shift between these phases rapidly and multiple times a day
(National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2006). Due to this mixed state, the children
can display irritable and destructive behaviour and express instances of extreme rage and
prolonged tantrums.
Sometimes, certain symptoms of bipolar disorder in children can be difficult to identify
because of two distinct reasons. Firstly, children are in the process of development of character

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and behavior as well as key adolescence traits, both physical and mental, because of which, they
are more prone to random outbursts (Birmaher, 2013). In that case, diagnosis of a particular
disorder is met with a developmental barrier.
Secondly, motivation and social parameters plays a far more significant role in child
cognitive development. Therefore it also becomes difficult to understand whether a particular
behaviour is an outcome of social conditioning or a side effect of psychological disorder.
There are certain prerequisites that determine if diagnosis is proper. Identification of the
child’s developmental environment and family background should be the most important as it
signifies and predicts certain behavioural parameters for the children. If those parameters are
adequately accounted for, I think professionals do an appropriate job in distinguishing bipolar
disorder from others (Merikangas et al., 2011).

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References
Birmaher, B. (2013). Bipolar disorder in children and adolescents. Child and adolescent mental
health, 18(3), 140-148.
Hui Poon, S., Sim, K., & J Baldessarini, R. (2015). Pharmacological approaches for treatment-
resistant bipolar disorder. Current neuropharmacology, 13(5), 592-604.
Jönsson, P. D., Wijk, H., Skärsäter, I., & Danielson, E. (2008). Persons living with bipolar
disorder—Their view of the illness and the future. Issues in Mental Health Nursing,
29(11), 1217-1236.
Merikangas, K. R., Jin, R., He, J. P., Kessler, R. C., Lee, S., Sampson, N. A., & Ladea, M.
(2011). Prevalence and correlates of bipolar spectrum disorder in the world mental health
survey initiative. Archives of general psychiatry, 68(3), 241-251.
National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (UK. (2006). Bipolar disorder: The
management of bipolar disorder in adults, children and adolescents, in primary and
secondary care. British Psychological Society.