Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder
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Abstract
Although bipolar disorder is mostly experienced by children and adolescences with family history of the disease, little effort has been placed on other possible causes of the disease. This essay examines the trends of the disease looking at is causes, symptoms and it effects. Hereditary factors and other social factors are illustrated to highlight how they might increase the changes of one getting the disease. The research reveals about several researches conducted indicating that hereditary factor is the most common cause of the disease.
Bipolar Disorder
Introduction
Bipolar is an illness mostly common in families with a history of the problem. Adolescents and children with parents or other siblings having the disorder are at higher risk of developing the diseases as compared to other children who do not have a family history of bipolar disorder. Researches indicate that certain hereditary genes are linked to bipolar disorder (Abell, 2009). Some medical experts argue that identical twins at times do not necessarily develop bipolar as much as they share the same genes; however, hereditary factors still remain the common cause of the disease. A number of researches closely associate certain genes with bipolar disorder claiming that biochemical problems that occur in families can be passed down to their off springs (Duffy, Grof, Robertson & Alda, 2000). For example, in a family where one parent has bipolar, chances are high that their children would develop the disease. Furthermore, the chance would be greater if some of the family members, especially close relatives, already have the disease (Abell, 2009). Examining the symptoms an individual with bipolar is likely to display, the effects of the disease, and how the disease can be managed are important in understanding the bipolar disorder.
An Overview of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar is a physical disease that changes the mood of an individual, the energy levels and the behavior (Duffy, Grof, Robertson & Alda, 2000). It is a mental problem whereby one experiences incidences of mania and at times severe depression. Being manic means individual happen to go through a period of abnormal, persistently raised and expansive mood disturbances that do not necessarily cause severe impairment in human function. Manic episodes are not as common as major depression. However, having a mixed episode of the symptoms means a weeklong of both mania and major depressive occurrences. At times, one can only experience major depressive episodes only without having manic episodes that may run for more than two weeks. This might be accompanied by severe depressed mood or loss of interest in most of the normal activities in life. Some people having this illness may perceive themselves to have super energy and the capabilities, which in reality are not true. The illusion can lead to despair resulting in either suicide or severe depression (Goodwin & Jamison, 1990).
Bipolar disorder affects both men and women. More so, it affects people who tend to be creative like artists. To some extent, it is closely associated with substance abuse especially in America. It is a condition observed at all ages, but usually can be detected from 17 to 29 years of age (Goodwin & Jamison, 1990). Late onset of the disease can also be witnessed after forty years. According to Goodwin & Jamison (1990), close to 100 people develop the disease annually; however, people with this illness may not realize the extent of their mood alteration unless family members intervene and point it out. Specific symptoms are usually present in people who have bipolar. Therefore, individuals with these symptoms need to seek psychiatric advice to verify if they have the disease.
People with bipolar display recurrent periods of depression with mania. Mania implies that one thinks like they are free from harm or simply know that they can accomplish easily, anything in the world (Oerlinghausen, Berghofer, & Bauer, 2002). Such people have a lot of energy and can do extreme actions that seem to be extraordinary. For adolescents, bipolar normally causes behavior that is disorderly, poor performance and can even lead to substance abuse. In children, bipolar is usually mistaken for deficit hyperactivity disorder, while in adults it can be confused with drug abuse or wrongdoing that affects mostly individuals from 18 to 44 years of age (Oerlinghausen, Berghofer, & Bauer, 2002).
Causes of Bipolar Disorder
Despite the illness existing for several years, not much is known about its causes; at times it is just considered as extremely stressful and overwhelming situation caused by life events that keep on changing. However, genetic factors are commonly associated with the disease. Several biological and environmental factors play an important role in explaining the causes of the disease. It is estimated that about 60% of people having bipolar also have a family history of the disease, which are mostly triggered by traumatic events in their lives and can affect anyone including children (Duffy, Grof, Robertson & Alda, 2000). Researches further indicate that genes that help to regulate chemical messengers in the brain commonly known as neurotransmitters are the ones that are usually altered causing bipolar (Duffy, Grof, Robertson & Alda, 2000). However, what alters the process is closely linked to genes that mostly are inherited, and then the process is further accelerated by drug abuse or stressful even...