Mental Health Newsletter: Bipolar Disorder (Article Sample)

Mental Health Newsletter: Bipolar Disorder Name Institution Course Professor Date Mental Health Newsletter: Bipolar Disorder In this edition of our mental health newsletter, we will focus on bipolar disorder by providing insights about the condition's diagnosis, psychological model, symptoms, available treatment options, and cultural perspectives. Information on the available support resources is also provided as a bonus towards enabling mental well-being. Introduction Bipolar disorder is a chronic condition that causes intense mood, energy level, and behavioral shifts in an individual. Such shifts often occur alongside depressive episodes that may last for a varied period; hours, days, weeks, or months. The intensity of the episodes often limits an individual from carrying on their day-to-day responsibilities. In the recent American Psychological Association publication of DSM codes in the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision, DSM-5-TR, bipolar disorder is assigned code 296. The different forms of bipolar disorder are then given a code with a decimal suffix to the conditions code; for instance, the code for bipolar I disorder is 296.4, whereas that of bipolar II disorder is 296.89. Bipolar disorder is complex as it involves both biological and cognitive psychological models. Under the biological model, the bipolar disorder develops from genetics, brain structure, and neurotransmitter imbalance, while under the cognitive model, mood regulation, thinking patterns, and coping strategies that are manifested in the mental condition are explored. It is, therefore, difficult to choose the best psychological model where bipolar disorder fits as the symptoms and manifestations touch on the biological and cognitive aspects. Etiology and Common Symptoms Psychologists do not have a precise cause of bipolar disorder. However, genetics is an essential contribution to the development of the condition in an individual (Gordovez & McMahon, 2020). A significant belief by most people is that if they have a relative within their biological lineage that was bipolar, then they are likely to develop it. Such people are unaware that cognitive and environmental factors may also influence the condition. Cognitive factors understate the changes that may occur in the brain activation of an individual, which may lead to bipolar disorder. Such changes include neurotransmitter imbalances that play a significant role in mood dysregulation hence the intense mood shifts. Environmental factors are based on external stressors that may trigger depressive or manic episodes that are a sign of the condition’s development. Common Symptoms The symptoms of bipolar disorder are categorized into three; 1 Manic episodes: The symptoms in this category include exhibiting excessive happiness and excitement, sudden and severe mood changes, restlessness, rapid speech, racing thoughts, increased energy, insomnia, poor judgment, heightened impulsivity, recklessness, and psychosis (McIntyre et al., 2020). For most individuals with manic episodes symptoms, they are usually unaware of the harmful repercussions of their actions. 2 Hypomanic episodes: The symptoms in this category are common for people with bipolar II disorder. The difference between hypomanic and manic symptoms is that the former are milder than the latter, and individuals' capability to handle their day-to-day obligations is not significantly affected (McIntyre et al., 2020). Such mild-manic symptoms often lead to severe depression, which comes with its own symptoms. 3 Depressive episodes: Symptoms include sadness, reduced energy levels, lack of motivation, feeling hopeless and worthless, increased need for sleep, poor concentration, irritability, appetite change, and suicidal tendencies. Notably, individuals may experience mixed episodes that are both manic and depressive. The negative feelings and thoughts experienced in depression are coupled with feelings of agitation and high energy in manic episodes. For such individuals, the symptoms during a mixed episode are the worst part of bipolar disorder and increase the chances of self-harm. Treatment Options and Therapy Treatment plans for bipolar disorder usually include a combination of therapies, psychotherapy, medication, and self-management strategies. Psychotherapy is a form of treatment that enables bipolar individuals to understand and manage themselves by developing coping strategies and enhancing their interpersonal skills. Under psychotherapy, individuals may be subjected to cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, IPSRT (Favre,et al., 2023). Medications, on the other hand, aid in managing mood swings and stabilizing symptoms since the main drugs prescribed are mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and antidepressants. The efficacy of the treatment options and therapies varies depending on the cultural perspective and individual circumstances. The current worldview is predominantly multicultural, thus making it crucial for cultural values, beliefs, and practices to be considered in choosing appropriate treatment options. Different cultures have varying treatment preferences when it comes to mental health conditions. Therefore, collaborative discussions ...