Biopolar Disorder Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Biopolar Disorder - Essay ExampleMania and depression both may involve states of malnutrition secondary to the psychiatrically diminished awareness of or ability to maintain ones health and well-being. Thus, a metabolic panel along with, in extreme cases, levels of thiamine, albumin, and prealbumin may help determine the extent of self-neglect and compromised nutritional state.Neuroimaging modalities are currently not helpful in diagnosing bipolar sickness. Rather, the clinical presentation of symptom clusters, as defined in the DSM-IV TR, plus family and heritable histories guide the mental health clinician in diagnosing psychiatric conditions.Neuroimaging studies of child and adolescent patients with bipolar disorderliness are few. MRI studies of children and adolescents with bipolar I disorder have shown enlarged ventricles and an increased number of hyperintensities compared with healthy control subjects. The pathologic and clinical significance of these findings is unknown.I n MRI studies, in a flying field by Darsi (1999) found that the area of the thalamus was substantially decreased in youths with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia compared with healthy control subjects. Studies in adults revealed similar findings. ... studies of children and adolescents with bipolar I disorder have shown enlarged ventricles and an increased number of hyperintensities compared with healthy control subjects. The pathologic and clinical significance of these findings is unknown.In MRI studies, in a study by Darsi (1999) found that the area of the thalamus was substantially decreased in youths with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia compared with healthy control subjects. Studies in adults revealed similar findings. The diagnosing of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia cannot be made on the basis of this volume difference on MRI. Nonetheless, reduced thalamic volume is consistent with clinical symptoms of poor attention, difficulty in filtering simultaneous stimuli, and dy sregulation of mood, all of which symptoms found in patients with both of these major mental illnesses. Whether a structural or functional deficit in the thalamus may be causal or contributory to the pathophysiology of these mental disorders remains unknown.Other Tests A baseline ECG may be involve before a psychotropic medication is started because some are known to alter QT intervals or other features of the cardiac rhythm.Symptoms of Bipolar DisorderBipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings from also high and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these changes in mood. The periods of highs and lows are called episodes of mania and depression. (Upadhyaya, 2006 Wikiepedia, 2007 NIMH, 2007).Symptoms of mania (or a manic episode) include (NIMH, 2007 Upadhyaya, 2006, Wikiepedia, 2007)Increased energy, activity, and restlessnessExcessively high, overly good, euphoric moodExtreme irritabilityRacing