CH. 7 mood disorders (bipolar)

bipolar disorders

involve lows of depression and highs of manis, shift between extreme moods, and have dramatic impact on relatives and friends

symptoms of mania

people in a state of mania experience dramatic and inappropriate rises in mood, energy, and risky behavior (enjoyable but not functional)

DSM criteria for bipolar disorder

1. irregular, inflated unrestrained, or irritable mood, heightened energy or activity for a week or more

2. overblown self-esteem, reduced sleep need, rapid shifting of ideas or thoughts, attention is pulled in many directions, pursuit of risky activities (at least 3)

DSM bipolar I disorder

1. occurrence of manic episode

2. hypomanic or major depressive episodes may precede or follow the manic episode

DSM bipolar II

1. presence or history of major depressive episode(s)

2. presence of history of hypomanic episode(s)

3. no history of a manic episode

stats of bipolar disorders

worldwide 1-2.8% of all adults have bipolar at any given time (4.4% have it at some point in life), onset 15-44yo, no gender differences, higher rates in low-income populations

cyclothymic disorder (bipolar disorder)

numerous periods of hypomanic symptoms and mild depression symptoms, symptoms continue for 2 years (typical moods for days/weeks in between), may evolve into bipolar I or bipolar II

biological model of bipolar disorders

neurotransmitter activity, ion activity, brain structure/circuitry, genetic factors,

neurotransmitter activity (biological model of bipolar disorders)

mania may be related to high norepinephrine activity along with low level of serotonin activity

ion activity (biological model of bipolar disorders)

improper transport of ions back and forth between the outside and the inside of a neuron’s membrane

brain structure/circuitry (biological model of bipolar disorders)

brain imaging and postmortem studies have identifies irregular brain structures in people with bipolar disorder (basal ganglia and cerebellum)

genetic factors (biological model of bipolar disorders)

people inherit a biological predisposition to develop bipolar disorders

*mood-stabilizing (biological treatment for bipolar disorders)

lithium (narrow therapeutic window, close to the fatal rate), anti-seizure drugs, and antipsychotic drugs

adjunctive psychotherapy (supportive treatments for bipolar disorders)

individual/group/family therapy, doubles likelihood that people with bipolar disorders continue to take medicine properly, helps reduce hospitalizations, improve social functioning, increase patients ability to obtain/hold a job