Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Bipolar I Disorder (Research Paper Sample)

Bipolar I Disorder
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Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Bipolar I Disorder
The mental health condition known as Bipolar I Disorder is a surprisingly common, yet often agonizing type of mood disorder which affects more people each and every day than one might think. A recently published article in The Washington Post claims that "The brain condition is characterized by high (manic) moods and low (depressed) moods as well as by fluctuating energy levels" (Karidis, 2016). It is usually a long journey into recovery and living a healthy life in spite of having this condition. However, with the right combination of medicine, therapy and determination, it is indeed possible for a Bipolar I patient to lead a happy and normal lifestyle.
Causes of Bipolar I
Bipolar 1 Disorder was once known as manic-depression (Mayo Clinic, 2019). The Mayo
Clinic reports that it is not yet known what precisely causes a person to have Bipolar I Disorder. However, both genes and one's environment are known to influence a person's risk of having the condition. One study published in 2020 says that Bipolar Disorder "...has a bidirectional relationship with cardiometabolic traits, but their shared etiology is poorly understood." (Fürtjes, 2020). A Bipolar person's brain actually shows changes when compared to a mentally healthy person's brain. An article which was published in 2017 states that "medical professionals can actually use machine learning, or pattern recognition, in order to measure differences in the brain on an MRI" (Hajek, et al. 2017). The article claims that "The discrepancy between brain and chronological age could contribute to early detection and differentiation of BD and schizophrenia" (Hajek, et al. 2017). Another recent journal article reads that the unique brain chemistry of Bipolar patients is likely attributed to "...multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms, which are highly prevalent in the general population and confer a very small increased risk individually" (Craddock and Sklar, 2013). In addition, the risk of having Bipolar 1 Disorder increases if any close family members are known to have Bipolar I or Bipolar II Disorder. To qualify for a Bipolar 1 diagnosis, the patient has to have had one or more manic episodes. If no manic episodes have ever occurred in the patient and the patient has only experienced