Bipolar Disorders in DSM-5, Research Paper Example

Prospectus

Bipolar disorder is a psychological disorder that hinders an individual’s ability to maintain steady a steady mental state.  Also known as manic-depressive disorder, the illness corresponds to varying states of both manic, or heightened and active states of mind, and a depressive phase, in which the mental and physical state are lower.  This is the basic idea regarding the disease and the effects of these altering states can be seen in the symptoms that they produce such as mood swings or other issues with mentality.

Before researching the topic, the ideas that I had regarding bipolar disorder were much less precise.  I understood the disorder as a symptom of some psychological issue, which would cause an individual to have mood swings and other complicated personality issues.  The disorder seemed to be the result of some underlying condition in regards to the stability of their mental states.  However, I did not fully realize the complex aspects of the disease and the diverse amount of variables that could work to instigate the onset of the illness.  The research questions that were evident before researching the subject were in relation to this complexity.  What are the basic triggers that lead to the onset of bipolar disorder?  What are the conditions under which the disorder arises?  How do these conditions lead to specific disorders?  The objective of the research is, therefore, to uncover these basic principles.

The research has challenged my understanding of the topic through the revelations that have been made through the information that has been provided by the examined sources.  In regards to the susceptibility of an individual to the disorder, there are various ways that they can see the onset of the illness.  This could be due to injury, intake of a chemical or other agent, or simply a biological predisposition.  In this way, the underlying challenge of understanding the disease itself is in developing a basis for its inception.  This can help to provide insight into the underlying functions of the individual’s mentality and the connection that it has to the disorder.

What’s Going on in the Field

Trends in regards to the topic include modern discoveries in regards to the illness including the specific age-range that symptoms begin to appear, the genetic dispositions that children obtain from their parents, and the proper form of medication in regards to the specific form of disorder.  The article “Pediatric bipolar disorder: phenomenology and course of illness”, for example, focuses specifically on the onset of bipolar disorder in children in regards to factors such as their family history, medical backgrounds, and obvious symptoms.  “The Neurobiology of Bipolar Disorder”, on the other hand, attempts to resolve the underlying brain functions that result in the disorder.  This source presents evidence of the biological factors associated with the illness.

The articles “Bipolar disorders in DSM-5: strengths, problems and perspectives” and “Bipolar Disorders: A Review” present a basic overview of the current definition of the disorder in regards to the psychological community.  They give a brief discussion of the general outcome of being diagnosed with the disorder.  Not only do these articles present evidence for the clinical preconditions for the onset of the disease, but also an overview of the conditions under which these individuals are often diagnosed.  These articles also argue for the importance of early diagnosis and assessment within a specific time period, namely between 12 and 18.

The article “Diagnosing Boundaries Between Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia: Implications for Pharmacologic Intervention”, similarly, presents the argument that accurate assessment of the disorder is important due to the implications of medication of the wrong disease.  This article, however, focuses more strongly on accurately assessing the difference between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.  This is also important due to the implications of prescribing the wrong drugs.

This understanding of what’s going on in the field has shifted my thinking to better reflect the developments that have recently occurred.  This includes not only the importance of neurobiology in the development and onset of the illness, but also the importance of attaining an accurate diagnosis of the illness at an early age.  These factors are important for helping those diagnosed to successfully combat the symptoms in a safe and effective way.  This is especially important for ensuring that patients are treated properly for the specific disorder that they have been diagnosed with.

Abstract

“The Neurobiology of Bipolar Disorder” is the most compelling source that has challenged the basic conceptions that I have had regarding the disease.  This source is basically an assessment of the underlying neurological conditions that result in the assessment of bipolar disorder within an individual.  The disorder, it seems is related to issues regarding the central nervous system.  These studies indicate that the disorder is the result of small changes in the ability of this system to broadcast signals and communicate.  The inability to communicate properly results in the malfunctioning of the basic chemicals that are associated with brain activity and what are associated with moods.  This results in the physical manifestation of highly altered states of mind between excitement, anxiety, and depression.  These manifestations are important to understand in regards to their underlying basis in the neurobiological connections that trigger them.

According to the source, damage to the brain often results in these problems and so there have been links to small issues in the development of the brain in those who are diagnosed outside of any known damage.  This presents insight into the basic preconditions necessary for the condition to develop within a person on a physical level.  In this way, the source presents evidence for the objective factors that lead to the disorder.  This study is different from the rest in this sense.  Rather than discussing the symptoms or the psychological associations of the disorder, the source presents a discussion of the biological symptoms that lead to issues in cognitive function.  This can help to understand on a more basic level the underlying factors that result in the onset of bipolar disorder.

These changes have been associated with basic biochemical reactions in the brain that are effected by the difficulty that these signals are having in communicating with one another.  This can be the result of exposure to certain chemicals as well as damage to the brain.  This presents evidence of the multitude of factors that should be taken into account when identifying the disorder in patients.  The challenge is, therefore, determining the environment that the individual has been exposed to as well as their family and medical histories.  This will help to establish an accurate assessment of their particular disorder.  In doing so, an idea of how the disorder came about that is based in concrete data rather than abstract speculation can help to inform a more thorough understanding of the bipolar mind.  This source is, therefore, important due to its focus on the biological association with the disease.

The paper goes on to further discuss the complex nature of the disorder.  While the general conception of bipolar disorder generally focuses on the opposite states of mind, manic and depressive, the source demonstrates the challenges of determining the states due to the dynamic nature of the disorder.  In this sense, it is important to understand the distinctions between bipolar disorders and basic conceptions of depression.  With bipolar individuals, the onset of the manic cycle presents a fundamental difference between the two.  This cycle is difficult to predict and doing so is essential to the proper treatment of the disorder.  In understanding the connection between the mood cycles of those with bipolar disorder and the alteration between manic and depressive states of mind a better idea of how to treat their symptoms can be achieved.

Comparative Summary

The sources “Bipolar disorders in DSM-5: strengths, problems and perspectives” and “Bipolar Disorders: A Review” present important insight into the field of bipolar psychological disorders.  The Review plays an important role in presenting a general overview of the circumstances surrounding the disorder, including the changing severity of cases across patients with different backgrounds.  The review goes further in demonstrating some basic ways that the disorder can become established within a patient’s mind.  Finally, the source provides information in regards to how those who have been diagnosed with the disorder can work to effectively manage the symptoms.

The source regarding DSM-5 presents information regarding the basic changes that have taken place in descriptions of the disorder since the previous version of the manual.  This source works to provide evidence for the most recent changes that have taken place in practice surrounding diagnosis of the disorder.  The source, therefore, provides an essential point of analysis for understanding the basic developments that have occurred within the psychological community.  It also presents evidence of the importance of effectively treating the disorder through early diagnosis.  The sources, therefore, share their function in providing an overview of the disorder and establishing a strong foundation for effective observation of its effects. However, while the source regarding the DSM presents information solely in regards to specific changes within the DSM, the review presents information that is beyond the boundaries of the manual.  Both help to provide insight into the underlying preconditions of the disorder as well as effective ways to combat the onset of its symptoms.

This exercise has effected the view that I had on the topic of bipolar disorder through the conception that there are varying degrees of the onset of its basic symptoms.  The manic and depression phases can be non-distinct in their occurrences and do so rarely across multiple cases.  This has informed me that the condition and its associated symptoms are much more dynamic and complex than originally perceived.

References

Angst, J. (2013). Bipolar disorders in DSM-5: strengths, problems and perspectives. International Journal of Bipolar Disorders, 1:12, 76-84.

Berns, G.S., Nemeroff, C.B. (2003).The Neurobiology of Bipolar Disorder. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part C (Semin. Med. Genet.), 123C(76–84), 1-3.

Faedda, G.L., Baldessarini, R.J., Glovinsky, I.P., Austin, N.B. (2004).Pediatric Bipolar Disorder: Phenomenology and Course of Illness. Bipolar Disorders, 6, 305–313.

Price, A.L. (2012). Bipolar Disorders: A Review. American Family Physician, 85:5, 483-493.

Strakowski, S.M. (2003). Diagnostic Boundaries Between Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia: Implications for Pharmacologic Intervention. Advanced Studies In Medicine, Vol. 3 (8C), 792-798.