Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder
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Abstract
Although bipolar disorder is mostly experienced by children and adolescences with family history of the disease, little effort has been placed on other possible causes of the disease. This essay examines the trends of the disease looking at is causes, symptoms and it effects. Hereditary factors and other social factors are illustrated to highlight how they might increase the changes of one getting the disease. The research reveals about several researches conducted indicating that hereditary factor is the most common cause of the disease.
Bipolar Disorder
Introduction
Bipolar is an illness mostly common in families with a history of the problem. Adolescents and children with parents or other siblings having the disorder are at higher risk of developing the diseases as compared to other children who do not have a family history of bipolar disorder. Researches indicate that certain hereditary genes are linked to bipolar disorder (Abell, 2009). Some medical experts argue that identical twins at times do not necessarily develop bipolar as much as they share the same genes; however, hereditary factors still remain the common cause of the disease. A number of researches closely associate certain genes with bipolar disorder claiming that biochemical problems that occur in families can be passed down to their off springs (Duffy, Grof, Robertson & Alda, 2000). For example, in a family where one parent has bipolar, chances are high that their children would develop the disease. Furthermore, the chance would be greater if some of the family members, especially close relatives, already have the disease (Abell, 2009). Examining the symptoms an individual with bipolar is likely to display, the effects of the disease, and how the disease can be managed are important in understanding the bipolar disorder.
An Overview of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar is a physical disease that changes the mood of an individual, the energy levels and the behavior (Duffy, Grof, Robertson & Alda, 2000). It is a mental problem whereby one experiences incidences of mania and at times severe depression. Being manic means individual happen to go through a period of abnormal, persistently raised and expansive mood disturbances that do not necessarily cause severe impairment in human function. Manic episodes are not as common as major depression. However, having a mixed episode of the symptoms means a weeklong of both mania and major depressive occurrences. At times, one can only experience major depressive episodes only without having manic episodes that may run for more than two weeks. This might be accompanied by severe depressed mood or loss of interest in most of the normal activities in life. Some people having this illness may perceive themselves to have super energy and the capabilities, which in reality are not true. The illusion can lead to despair resulting in either suicide or severe depression (Goodwin & Jamison, 1990).
Bipolar disorder affects both men and women. More so, it affects people who tend to be creative like artists. To some extent, it is closely associated with substance abuse especially in America. It is a condition observed at all ages, but usually can be detec...