The Study of Bipolarism

The study of Bipolarism

Have you ever asked yourself, why am I always moody? Did one of your friends ever seem to be more moody than normal? Are you happy one minute and angry the very next minute? All in a flash of a camera, a blink if an eye, the snap of a finger, anything can cause this sudden mood change. Most people just consider it to be normal, but it is not. This can be symptoms of a disorder known as Bipolar disorder. Can you live with it? Yes. Can it be treated? Absolutely, you can be treated. Will it ever go away? With today's medical technology, this disorder is treatable but not curable. Have you ever asked yourself if you over reacted to something so minor? Can you explain your sudden mood changes? This can possibly be the symptoms of being bipolar. There are many things that have been thought to be a symptom or cause of being bipolar. It is difficult to imagine that you or a loved one is bipolar. I have seen my father deal with this disease since I was a young child. Unfortunately I did not understand what he was going through and why he was the way he was. The history of Bipolar and the name has changed over the years. The causes are still undergoing research, and the treatments are still not perfect.

Bipolar disorder is one of the oldest known illnesses. Research has revealed some mention of the symptoms in early medical records. It was first noticed as far back as the second century. Aretaeus of Cappadocia first recognized some symptoms of mania and depression, and felt they could be linked to each other. At that time many did not understand or believe him. By 1650 a scientist wrote a book, The Anatomy of Melancholia, which focused on depression. His research is still used today by many in the mental health field, and he is credited with being the father of depression as a mental illness.

"Jules Falret coined the term "folie circulaire" (circular insanity) in 1854, and established a link between depression and suicide. His work led to the term bipolar disorder, as he was able to find a distinction between moments of depression and heightened moods. He recognized this to be different from simple depression, and finally in 1875 his recorded findings were termed Manic-Depressive Psychosis, a psychiatric disorder. Another lesser-known fact attributed to Falret is that he found the disease seemed to be found in certain families thus recognizing very early that there was a genetic link." (caregiver.com, 1995)

Another scientist believed there was a major distinction between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Francois Baillarger characterized the depressive phase of the disease. This is what allowed bipolar disorder to receive its' own classification from other mental disorders of the time." In 1913, Emil Krapelin established the term manic-depressive, with an exhaustive study surrounding the effects of depression and a small portion about the manic state. Within fifteen years, this approach to mental illness was fully accepted and became the prevailing theory of the early 1930's." (caregiver.com, 1995) All this research and study created the need to define the causes.

Scientists don't know for sure what causes bipolar disorder, though they believe it may be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. Scientific research continues to publish new information and theories. A 2000 study in the American Journal of Psychiatry reported "in those with bipolar disorder, two major areas of the brain contain 30 percent more cells that send signals to other brain cells." (caregiver.com, 1995) Most scientists believe that mental illnesses are caused by a combination of several factors working together. In bipolar disorder, these factors are usually divided into biological and psychological causes. The main reasons mental illness develops are physical and environmental. One theory is that physical causes of bipolar disorder can be inherited. Another theory is that the environment we live in can cause a bipolar disorder as well; both these theories are still being tested.

So, what exactly is inherited? The neurotransmitter system has received a lot of attention as a possible cause of bipolar disorder. Researchers have known for decades that a link exists between neurotransmitters and mood disorders, because drugs which alter these transmitters also relieve mood disorders. Some studies suggest that a low or high level of a specific neurotransmitter such as serotonin, norepinephrine or dopamine is the cause. Other studies indicate that an imbalance of these substances is the problem. (healthyplace.com, 2011) The disorder has had multiple attempts at treatment and medications.

If you have bipolar disorder, you're not alone. Bipolar disorder affects both men and women, and nearly 6 million American adults have it. Most often, the first episode happens when a person is in their late teens to early 20s. But it can also happen in young children and older adults. Some people are born with a greater chance of getting bipolar disorder. This is because it can run in families. People who have bipolar disorder are not the only ones affected by this illness. If you have bipolar