Bipolar I Disorder Essay

In 1980, when the Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) was reviewed for the third time, Bipolar disorder was identified as having “two poles” representing the two sides mania and depression. It was at this time that they stopped using this term in order to prevent people calling people maniacs. (Cherney, 2016) They began to categorized bipolar disorder. One way was Bipolar I Disorder, in Bipolar I disorder the person must have a minimum of one manic episode and one or more major depressive episode. Bipolar I disorder is just as common in men as it is in women. In men their first episode is usually mania but in women their first episode is typically major depression. Bipolar II Disorder is Next. Bipolar disorder II is major depression.

Hypomania could be described as a part of Bipolar II disorder. It was introduced by Erich Mendel. He wanted a term for types of mania that were not as intense. Their mood doesn’t cause a big enough disturbance in order to make them to miss work or not be able to go out and socialize or it doesn’t require them to be hospitalized. In a hypomanic episode a person mood is irritated for about at least four days. They are in this mood almost everyday for most of the day. During this time, they have had at least three or more of the following symptoms persistently; relying on low amounts of sleep, excessive talking, Racing thoughts, easily distracted, or increased interest in risky behaviors. (Bressert, 2017) Next is Cyclothymic Disorder. Cyclothymic disorder was along the line of dysthymia and hyperthymia. In cyclothymic disorder people experience mood swings that are less severe. Their episodes switch from hypomania to mild depression. They change moods rapidly. A person with Cyclothymic Disorder will have at least four episodes of major depression, mania, hypomania, or a mixed of the three in a year but could have more. They could have multiple episodes within a week or even in a