Bipolar Disorder 4 The Effects of Bipolar Disorder Many people throughout the world live with the effects of bipolar disorder. Some people go on living life without being diagnosed. Some are diagnosed at an early age. What causes bipolar disorder? Is it genetics or is it something that a person is born with?
By the age of 5 children have an EEG pattern which is similar and looks like those of an adult but they are still sleeping more than adults with an approximate time of 12 hours in sleep and they also have more increase with approximately 30% of the total sleep time being in REM. At this stage, it appears that boys engage in more sleep than girls. This is the age where nREM sleepwalking often occurs but disappears in adulthood. During adolescence the need for sleep increases to 9-10 hours. Circadian rhythms change.
This explains why babies have a significantly greater amount of REM sleep. It is further supported by the fact that premature babies spend 90% of their time in active sleep. Some psychologists even suggest that REM activity may present imagery which further stimulates the brain. Furthermore in childhood by the age of five children have EEG patterns that look like those of an adult despite the fact that they are still sleeping more (mire REM activity). During childhood it is not uncommon for children to experience a variety of
Severity of motor (involuntary movement) and phonic (involulntary noise) abnormalities usually peak early with a reduction of symptoms noticed around age 20 for most people, but severe cases may start in adulthood (Leckman, 2002). Tourette's syndrome is associated with a variety of other mental health disorders including depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and other anxiety disorders. TS are more common in males than females at a ratio of 4 to 1 and more common in Caucasian than African American or Hispanics (Enwefa, 2006). Currently there is no official number of people with TS, but it is estimated that about 100,000 Americans have it (Crews, 2000). There is no known cause of TS, but researcher's have focused on the possibility of chemical imbalance causing abnormal neurotransmission of brain signals (Kozarek, 1992).
“It occurs in 10 percent of people who have a first-degree relative with the disorder, such as a parent, brother, or sister. People who have second-degree relatives (aunts, uncles, grandparents, or cousins) with the disease also develop schizophrenia more often than the general population” (Schizophrenia, 2009). There isn’t just one gene that is associated with schizophrenia, but scientists believe there are several genes that are linked to the disorder. “Other recent studies suggest that schizophrenia may result in part when a certain gene that is key to making important brain chemicals malfunctions. This problem may affect the part of the brain involved in developing higher functioning skills” (Schizophrenia, 2009).
The Office of National Statistics, interviewed parents, teachers, and children themselves, and found that many suffer from emotional problems such as depression, anxiety and aggression. Statistics show that over a 3 year period, children whose parents were split up were 4.53 more likely to develop emotional problems than those whose parents were still in one household, and were 2.87 times more likely to demonstrate the start of behavioral disorders. Edmondson, Brad/Waldrop, Judith “Single Parents Statistics” American Demographics, Dec93, Vol. 15 Issue 12, p36, 2p, 2 Charts, 1 Graph. Per the US Census Bureau single parents consist of “other families” which are households of unmarried couples.
A diagnosis can consist of hallucinations, delusions, strange behavior, lack of social skills, inability to feel pleasure, poverty of speech, and psychomotor retardation. There are many speculations about the causes of schizophrenia—some even believe that cannabis use (especially at such a young age) can increase the likelihood of forming it; along with a light body weight. Also, there are treatments out there for schizophrenia but the one that works the most effectively is an antipsychotic drug working in about 70% of patients. Only about 1 in 5 people recover from schizophrenia because some refuse the drugs or relapse from major stressors or the family
Some studies suggest that pregnancy may lessen symptoms: “In one study, 800f patients with affective illness (predominantly bipolar) experienced an improvement or a diminution of symptoms of their mood disorder during pregnancy” (Altshuler et al. 1998). At the same time, these studies are contradicted by other studies. For instance, in a study involving women with bipolar type I disorder, “…women reported manic mood changes, in each case occurring during pregnancy” (Blehar et al., 1998). Manic episodes and cycling seemed to occur exclusively during
Bobby Griffith comes from a staunch Christian family. Somehow a young Bobby finds himself attracted to boys and confides that he is gay to older brother who goes and tell their mother. Mary is a deeply religious woman falls apart when she hears this. She tells Bobby that he is committing a sin therefore must change his ways by praying and going to church. No matter how Bobby prays and his family supporting him all the way all comes to no avail, he becomes dejected over his experiences in the church.
It often develops in a person’s late teens or early adult years. At least half of all cases start before age 25. Like diabetes or heart disease, bipolar disorder is a long-term illness that must be carefully managed throughout a person's life. People with bipolar are more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, have relationship problems, or perform poorly in school or at work. Symptoms of mania associated with bipolar are mood changes and behavioral changes.