Bipolar Disorder

Research Paper # 62441

Medical and Health
Psychology > Disorders

Bipolar Disorder

A summary of the current literature available on this mood disorder.

3,523 words () | 6 sources | APA | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder, affecting around 2.5% of the American population. Although this illness has received a great deal of attention in recent years, most people are still not aware of true intricacies of the disorder and the majority of the population remains uneducated, suffering from a tendency to oversimplify the symptoms. Bipolar Disorder is an extremely serious, potentially lethal, biological disorder, accounting for symptoms well beyond that of escalating mood swings. This paper presents a summary of the current literature on Bipolar Disorder, compiled from various sources, including actual case studies. Symptoms, treatment options, incidence and prevalence rates, course, history, etiology and demographic variables are included in the paper.

From the Paper:

"There is significant symptom reduction between episodes, but 25% of patients continue to display mood instability or mild depression. As many as 60% of patients experience chronic interpersonal or occupational difficulties between acute episodes. Bipolar I Disorder may develop psychotic symptoms. The psychotic symptoms in Bipolar I Disorder only occur during severe manic, mixed, or depressive episodes. Poor recovery is more common after psychosis. Manic episodes usually begin abruptly and last for between 2 weeks and 4-5 months (median duration about 4 months). Depressive episodes tend to last longer (median length about 6 months), though rarely for more than a year, except in the elderly."