Bipolar Affective Disorder
...16th and 17th century. The Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh was thought to of
suffered from bipolar disorder. It appears that there are an abundance of
people with the disorder yet, no true causes or cures for the disorder. Clearly
the Bipolar disorder severely undermines their ability to obtain and sustain
social and occupational success. However, the journey for the causes and cures
for the Bipolar disorder must continue.
Affective disorders are primarily characterized by depressed mood,
elevated mood or (mania), or alternations of depressed and elevated moods. The
classical term is manic-depressive illness, a newer term is Bipolar disorder.
The two are interchangeable. Milder forms of a depressive syndrome are called
dysthymic disorder, mild forms of mania are hypomania and the milder expressions
of Bipolar disorder are called cyclothymic disorders. The use of the term
primary affective disorder refers to the individuals who had no previous
psychiatric disorders or else only episodes of mania or depression. Secondary
affective disorder refers to patients with preexisting psychiatric illness other
than depression or mania (Goodwin, Guze. 1989, p.7 ).
Bipolar affective disorder affects approximately one percent or three
million persons in the United States, afflicting both males and females.
Bipolar disorder involves episodes of mania and depression. The manic episodes
are characterized by elevated or irritable mood, increased energy, decreased
need for sleep, poor judgment and insight, and often reckless or irresponsible
behavior (Hollandsworth, Jr. 1990 ). These episodes may alternate with profound
depressions characterized by a pervasive sadness, almost inability to move,
hopelessness, and disturbances in appetite, sleep, in concentrations and driving.
Bipolar disorder is diagnosed if an episode of mania occurs whether
depression has been...
View Full Essay
