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There is no great genius without a mixture of madness.Aristotle

Bipolar is not simply a disorder, according to the book The DaVinci Method. It is a

symptom of high creativity and energy, and found in most geniuses. While it brings success

to some, it leaves others with manic episodes and depression. There is evidence to suggest

that a number of artists and writers meet the diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder. Charles

Dickens, Beethoven, Marilyn Monroe, and VanGogh are just a few famous individuals

thought to be linked to the disease. Our case study Susie also suffers from this disorder, the

child of a strict Irish upbringing. She describes herself as out of control at times, or even

refers to herself as a superwoman to friends. This woman has odd political notions and

has begun to write notes to herself anywhere and everywhere. At one point, she even

contemplated suicide.

There are three main components involved when it comes to neurotransmitter

influences. The first involves serotonin, which is most commonly known for being associated

with moods of depression. The second is noradrenaline (also known as norepinephrine)

which has been in bad company with some psychotic and manic episodes. The third is

dopamine, and is linked to our pleasure center of our brain. When this fails, the human body

no longer functions on a realistic level and becomes illogical in its thought patterns and

behaviors. The brain chemical serotonin is equally connected to our sleep and eating habits,

our sexual activity, impulsive behavior as well as our ability to learn and recall information.

Most any study these days will conclude one thing: bipolar disorder is considered

genetic. The convincing piece of evidence shows that there is definite proof it runs through

families via twin studies. If one identical twin has bipolar disorder, the second twin is

anywhere from 40% to 70% more likely to develop the condition. Those who have a

predisposition for it already are more likely to trigger the effects under environmental

stressors or otherwise. Many other individuals who do not develop the disorder are likely to

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progress and develop ADHD, major depression, even schizophrenia or simply substance

abuse. As much as genetics play a role, they are only half of the picture. From the

background mentioned in Susies case, it sounds as if her maternal grandfather could have

been treated for a similar mental illness by using the outdated method of electro-convulsive

therapy. Her relatives also have a mild history of depression, which further adds to weighing

suspicions. On an interesting side note, WebMD states that children born to fathers in their

50s were found to have a 37# higher chance of developing the disorder too. Susies parents

could have been older, which would explain some of the stricter, traditional ways they

expected all family to live by. The older a person gets, the harder set they are in their ways

of the world.

There are studies that tie brain abnormality to bipolar disorder and show us how each

brain is wired just a little different than the next person. They way an individuals brain

decides to wire itself is very unique. No two are the samesort of like fingerprints, only this

is a brain print. Having a differently wired brain is not necessarily a bad thing either if you

look on the bright side: there will be brain activity in areas where the average healthy person

regularly has none. These are called intracel lular signaling abnormalities. Susies brain will

simply be giving her about 31% more signal sending cells to the Thalamus, and 28% more

to the Ventral Brain System. The reduction of her frontal cortex will be smaller than average

as well as the size of her hippocampus, but there will be 40% less grey matter of the left

Pre-Frontal Cortex.

Official statistics judge that the bipolar illness plagues 1% to 4% of the population, but

they believe the truthful estimate is somewhere around 10% instead. According to the World

Health Organization, it is the sixth leading cause of disability and its as common as

diabetes. The diagnosis of this illness is hard, but at least treatment methods have

advanced. The former, most common treatment for this disorder used to be lithium, but we

have done away with the idea and patients are sometimes expected to take up to four or five

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drugs daily to manage their situation with unwanted side effects. Treatment for bipolar

disorder is a lifetime commitment and can involve psychotherapy (this is talk therapy),

anticonvulsant medication or both. While lithium was a good choice to control manic

episodes, medical officials soon concluded that they were not as effective in preventing and

controlling the depressive symptoms of the disorder. Additionally, depending on whether or

not Susie has Bipolar I disorder, or Bipolar II, the treatment will not advance in the same

way as the other. Antipsychotic medications are sometimes used to treat the symptoms too.

While my one bipolar associate suggests killing it with fire to be the most successful

treatment, research shows this is clearly not going to be the correct resolution to any

problem. All the traditional treatment such as anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, and

psychotherapy. WebMD lists four types of therapy to focus on relieving the stress of these

symptoms. They are behavioral, cognitive, interpersonal, and social rhythm therapy. I

believe an approach from all angles is possibly the most successful chance of a solution in

Susies case. Thankfully, for the ginger bipolar patient treatments have come leaps and

bounds in the last ten years. As always, medications should be taken as instructed by the

doctor. The treatment plan may not always stay the same for Susie, but that job is best left

to the professionals. Each person who suffers from this disorder will be unique, but simply

treating it with medication is suggested since it is just like any other health problem. You

cant cure it with determination and willpower.

Lithium is easily the oldest and cheapest way to reduce symptoms of bipolar disorder

and has about a 70% to 80% response in patients. (WebMD, 2013) It doesnt come without

its cost, however. While it may put aside the chance of suicide six fold, patients will need

their blood pressure, kidney, and thyroid tests monitored frequently. Other medications

include anticonvulsants such as Lamictal, and Topirimax. (This fact I find interesting

because I have taken both before, but not for bipolar disorder. Lamictal concluded with a

bad result, and I take Topirimax today for one of the other uses it is associated with: pain.

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More specifically, migraine pain.) From personal experience, Lamictal did not collide well

with my brain chemistry at all. What it is supposed to do is have an effect and boost the

depressive mood of an individual. It works for many other people, but not me. The

medication is supposed to stabilize the electrical activity in the brain and regulate the nerves

fire properly. For an electrical signal to fire in the brain, sodium needs to be built up in the

nerve cells. Lamictal works to inhibit this behavior in the brain cells. This is the basis for

most medication used to treat bipolar disorder.

With medications there come side effects. At times, the side effects can be more than

the result is worth. Stressful life events, substance abuse (such as the intake of alcohol) can

make this disorder much harder to treat. Lithium is known for the small window of

opportunity it has to be therapeutic in comparison to other mood-stabilizers, and can be very

toxic to some. Common side effects include tremors, weight gain, nausea, vomiting, and

other graphical unfortunate situations not worth divulging. It can create the problem of acne

and edema too. Medscape states that approximately 5% to 35% patients will develop

hypothyroidism while on lithium. This is an equally interesting, enlightening fact to me as I

have hypothyroidism. Any medication that gives someone a chance to develop this disease,

well, lets justsay its not worth the risk. It opens a whole new window of bad possibilities

that will last a lifetime. Long term effects are not much better for mood-stabilizers, however.

There have been renal chances reported as well as interstitial fibrosis, and tubular atrophy.

Higher dosages could have an even worse effect on an attempt to treat Susie, resulting in

neurological effects.

Either way you swing it, Susie will require lifelong treatment. At times she may be

hospitalized and feel suicidal, where she becomes disassociated with reality. If she chooses

to self-medicate and drink or use drugs, any medication or psychotherapy will be less

effective and she may return to her habits of noting the details of her life everywhere in her

room. Needless to say, her performance in school will be less than average and she will

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most likely be put on academic probation should she choose so. Susie may also have to find

help without her familys knowledge to avoid stigmas, as it seems they share little with their

daughter under such a tenuous relationship. In the end, hopefully her relatives could be

educated instead of ignorant to mental health. It is not simply a weakness one can wake

up one day and get over, like a bad break up. No, mental illness is as much a medical

problema chemical problem as any other more physical disease presents itself. Just

because you cant see the obvious effects sometimes like a physical problem doesnt mean

the issue doesnt exist or is any less valid.

You should also introduce the original case study into this paper. Be sure to look at thespecifics of the case and discuss how the biological and genetic influences of thatparticular case fit in with what you have researched on these aspects of the disorder.

Each Case Study Project should be in the form of a paper, rather than numberedquestions.It should be approximately 1,000 - 2,000 words, double-spaced, and in a 12pt font. All work should be in the students own words, with quotes used very sparingly.Be sure to answer all the questions within the body of the paper, with several referencesto support your conclusions, using proper APA format and citation.

http://www.bpchildren.org/files/Download/BrainAbnormalities.pdf

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipolar-disorder/DS00356/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/bipolar-disorder-causes?page=2

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/mental-health-medications/what-medications-are-used-to-treat-bipolar-disorder.shtml

http://www.bpchildren.org/files/Download/BrainAbnormalities.pdfhttp://www.bpchildren.org/files/Download/BrainAbnormalities.pdfhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipolar-disorder/DS00356/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugshttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipolar-disorder/DS00356/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugshttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipolar-disorder/DS00356/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugshttp://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/bipolar-disorder-causes?page=2http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/bipolar-disorder-causes?page=2http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/bipolar-disorder-causes?page=2http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipolar-disorder/DS00356/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugshttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipolar-disorder/DS00356/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugshttp://www.bpchildren.org/files/Download/BrainAbnormalities.pdf