Mood Disorder: Bipolar and Depression - Essay Example

? Mood Disorder Mood Disorder Mood disorders are in the category of the major mental health in clinical terms. They are included in various types of depressions and now popular bipolar disorder. In another clinical term, mood disorders can be referred to as “affective disorders”. It is the intent of this study to scrutinize mood disorder from its genesis to its treatment in the clinical environment. This study will effectively discuss depression and bipolar disorder, their symptoms, and treatment. Health professionals have for the last few decades recorded an increase of mental disorders among very young children (Wiley, 2005). Traces of symptoms of mood disorder begin showing up, although, it is hard to recognize it because children are not able to express themselves. Children are not known to exhibit the same symptoms as adults while in this condition. According to Wiley (2005), diagnosing mood disorders among children can be hard since children are unable to communicate how they feel for the doctor to prescribe the right diagnosis. Presently, researchers and clinicians believe that, in children and adults, mood disorders are considered, mainly, under-diagnosed illnesses related to mental health. Mood disorders are known to persist long enough even after the diagnosis of the problem. This causes the individual to be vulnerable to other conditions related to mental health, later in life. Causes of Mood Disorders At present, researchers and clinicians have been unable to identify the causes of mood disorders among children and adults. However, Ghaemi (2008) observes that it is known that a certain chemical in the brain known as endorphins, are entirely accountable for positive moods. The human brain contains other chemicals that regulate endorphins. These chemicals are referred to as neurotransmitters. Researchers argue that depression and other mood disorders are most likely, a result of chemical imbalance in the human brain (Wiley, 2005). When a person is faced by events that have depressing issues, the brains resistance to accept the reality can contribute to the chemical imbalance, resulting in mood disorder. Clinicians have recorded a rising trend within families, citing a form of inheritance in mood disorders. This is termed as multi-factorial inheritance, where many factors within the family are involved, or responsible for the disorder (Ghaemi, 2008). Certain traits within the family are genetically transmitted within family members. These conditions are factored by either a genetic inheritance or environmental pre-conditions surrounding the individual. However, because of the way every gender expresses the mental condition one gender is expected to show signs of mood disorder over the other. This differing threshold of expression within opposite genders posses a great challenge during diagnosis, where expression is vital to know exactly how to diagnose the condition. Depression Disorder Depression disorder is the most familiar mood disorder in clinical cases. This disorder mostly goes unnoticed until in its acute stage, where the patient exhibits major signs of hopelessness, disturbed sleep, major changes in eating habits, extreme tiredness, and in extreme cases, thoughts of death or suicide. Ghaemi (2008) asserts that depression disorder is prevalent in clinical care practice, where it is often unnoticed. When these depression disorders go unnoticed, they tend to slow physical recovery of the patient, in case of an illness. Any diagnosis to the physical illness may be slowed down if the depression disorder is never recognized. It is strictly recommended that all doctors should be able to detect and analyze the conditions. Once these conditions are detected, they should be treated, and for those requiring specialist care be given full attention. Clinical professions rate depression as more intense than a normal feeling of occasional sadness. In normal life situations, people may feel sad out of various happenings in life. These could be brought about by situations like losing a job, divorce, bankruptcy, and or loss of a loved one. Depression goes beyond this normal feeling with a high intensity in effect, evident in a person’s expression. A bad mood will only go for a few days, and disappears. The individual resumes normal mental operation after a few days of mood disorder (Wiley, 2005). Types of Depression Disorders According to American Psychiatric Publishing (2006), in every person’s life, it is common to find traces of depression at some varying times. There are times a person may go through the loss of a close relative, divorce, various tragedies in life that may include loss of a job or a big opportunity. All these stressful events are common in life, and some are well able to cope with them without major hindrances. However, some are unable to cope with the condition, leading to acute stress disorder. When this condition remains unmanageable, the individual may graduate to clinical depression that will require medical personnel to attend the patient. Medical professions refer this condition as “clinical” to differentiate the condition from the normal mental difficulties. Situational Depression This depression occurs when the human mind reacts to some abnormal event or occurrence that the mind finds it hard to cope with the situation (Parker, 2004). As is common with life, hard situations are always common that challenge the normal function of the mind. These situations are eventful. They linger for some time, and then vanish, but the mind is unable to cope with the effects created. Break-up from a relationship is an example of a situational depression that largely affects women. This happens when the individual’s anticipations are not met, and one is unable to deal with the reality of the development. Dysthymic Disorder This depression is sometimes acute and long term, causing serious effects to the person. The depression may prolong from childhood until later years in adulthood, where the individual may receive the necessary clinical help because of their ability to express themselves. Nonetheless, the condition may never be noticed earlier because it does not adversely affect the normal mind operation. The low grade effect helps the person to cope with life normally (Parker, 2004). Cyclothymic Disorder This mood disorder is characterized by mental conditions that are more than normal moodiness that an individual may suffer. The symptoms may tend to swing from high to low and the vice depending on the personality of the individual. The shift from a serious depression to very energetic reaction is evident to most persons in this level. Clinicians believe that this disorder may not interfere with the normal function of the human mind (Power, 2005). The individual may be able to function well without being dictated by this disorder. Most people suffering from this disorder are not aware of their mental problem and only at some point in time that one may admit they have a problem that need professional help (American Psychiatric Publishing, 2006). Bipolar Disorder Researchers and clinicians used to refer this disorder as “Manic-Depressive Disorder”. The minds functionality is affected by a chemical imbalance in the brain of the individual. A person suffering from this disorder exhibits periods of low depression, where the person feels fatigue and unenergetic. This condition may at times shift to extreme energy and a “high” feeling without a reason to feel this way. It has been observed that these shifts can, sometimes, be so extreme that the mind is unable function normally. The affected person is unable to cope with, and make sound judgments and decisions. Mood shifts in this condition, always last, and cycles from one stage to another slowly or rapidly over a period of weeks or months in extreme cases (Cummings, 2000). Symptoms of Depression It is widely accepted that clinical depression is not a condition that comes and go in a short time. The symptoms are known to last for many weeks, with some of them escalating to months and to the extreme events years, where the patient does not seek treatment. An individual affected by mental disorder may begin exhibiting inability to perform normal daily activities. Some show signs of lack of care, including waking up late, unable to carry out normal activities reading or even socializing with people (Cummings, 2000). Loss of interest in usual activities is a good sign on a person with depression. Others show considerable boost or decline in appetite on the usual or favourite foods. Others show excessive guilt, or feeling of worthlessness to a level of contemplating suicide, or in some cases committing suicide. Significant weight loss because of lack of eating is a significant symptom. Medication There is a variety of medication for patients diagnosed with this disorder, and the clinician will prescribe various forms of medication. Medications prescribed for patients suffering from these disorders are known to as mood stabilizers. There are other medications that the doctor may prescribe which include; antipsychotic and anticonvulsant medications (Westermeyer, 2003). These medications are mostly prescribed for bipolar disorder. In bipolar cases, many patients are advised to take lithium, which is most effective in treating bipolar disorder. However, there have been clinical reports that patients with this form of disorder do not respond well to this medication. There is another helpful medical treatment to lower the effects of this condition or to offer complete healing. According to Westermeyer (2003), they are anti-seizure medications that are helpful in stabilizing moods in the brain. Carbamazepine medicines are often used in patients with bipolar disorder. Other medicines include oxcarbazepine, lamatrigine, and valproic acid. All these drug prescriptions have side effects that require close monitoring while the patient is taking these medications. The patient is always advised to inform the health professional the exact medicines one has been taking before the doctor prescribes any new dosage. This is to help in avoiding some medicines reducing the effectiveness of some medications. Conclusion This study has widely discussed the mood disorders that are evident in most people around the world. Bipolar and depression are the most prevalent as this study has discussed. Many people do not seek medication mainly because they are not aware of a prevailing problem that needs argent attention. It is only later in life that people with these disorders seek medication when the situation is serious. This study has also discussed various forms of depressions and their treatment. References American Psychiatric Publishing. (2006). The American Psychiatric Publishing textbook of mood disorders. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Pub. Cummings, J. L. (2000). Behavior and mood disorders in focal brain lesions: [...]. Cambridge [u.a.: Cambridge Univ. Press. Ghaemi, S. N. (2008). Mood disorders: A practical guide. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Parker, G. (2004). Dealing with depression: A commonsense guide to mood disorders. Crows Nest, N.S.W: Allen & Unwin. Power, M. J. (2005). Mood disorders: A handbook of science and practice. Chichester, West Sussex, England: J. Wiley. Westermeyer, J. (2003). Integrated treatment for mood and substance use disorders. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Wiley, J. (2005). Mood disorders: Clinical management and research issues. Chichester, West Sussex: J. Wiley. Read More