Learning_Objects_for_Exam_II

Bipolar Disorder

A mental health condition marked by extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).

Mania

A period of feeling very high, overly happy, or extremely irritable, characterized by excessive energy, racing thoughts, and impulsive behavior.

Hypomania

A milder form of mania that does not require hospitalization and affects sleep and activity.

Depression

A long period of feeling sad, worried, or empty, often leading to a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.

Bipolar I

Characterized by at least one manic or mixed episode that lasts at least 7 days, and usually includes depressive episodes.

Bipolar II

Involves a pattern of depressive episodes shifted with hypomanic episodes, without full-blown manic episodes.

Schizoaffective Disorder

A mental health disorder that includes symptoms of both schizophrenia and mood disorders, but generally portrays a more stable state.

Ventricles

Hollow parts of the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid; enlargement indicates loss of neural tissue and is associated with bipolar disorder.

Hyperintensity Signals

Areas on an MRI that appear brighter than surrounding tissue, indicating possible cell death and brain matter loss.

Amygdala

The emotional hub of the brain, playing a role in memory and emotional processing, particularly overactive in those with bipolar disorder.

Anterior Cingulate Cortex

A brain region involved in emotion regulation, which might show deficient activity in those with bipolar disorder.

Lifetime Prevalence Rate

The proportion of individuals in a population that have ever experienced a specific mental health disorder during their lifetime.

Comorbidity

The simultaneous presence of two or more medical conditions in a patient.

Methylation

A chemical process that can silence gene expression, influencing how genes work based on environmental factors.

Epigenetics

The study of changes in organismal gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence.

BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor)

A protein that supports neuron growth and survival; lower levels have been correlated with bipolar disorder.

Lithium

A mood stabilizer used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, effective for both mania and depressive episodes.

Dyskinesia

Abnormal motor movements often resulting from long-term use of antipsychotic medications.

Neurotoxicity

Damaging effects on nerve tissue that can arise from excessively high levels of glutamate.

Glutamate

A major neurotransmitter in the brain that, if imbalanced, can contribute to manic and depressive episodes in bipolar disorder.