All About Bipolar

Posted By atorturedsoul on September 29, 2009

Catch up on some of the latest news about bipolar disorder!

Searching around the internet this morning, I am catching up on more than a week’s worth of news. I found too many interesting things to pick just one so I am going to share several interesting news items.

Mad Genius – The link between psychosis and artistic creativity

“Psychiatrist Szabolcs Kéri of Semmelweis University in Hungary looked into an urban legend about the link between creativity and mental illness and says there may be something to it.”

For years, many of us have suspected this link so it is nice that they are now studying it and trying to find the connection.

“Kéri notes that this is the first study to show that a genetic variant associated with psychosis may have some beneficial functions. He observes that “molecular factors that are loosely associated with severe mental disorders but are present in many healthy people may have an advantage enabling us to think more creatively.”

In addition, they say these findings suggest that certain genetic variations, even though associated with adverse health problems, may survive evolutionary selection and remain in a population’s gene pool if they also have beneficial effects.”

A genetic variant associated with psychosis may be beneficial because it contributes to creativity. It also suggests that these genetic variations survive evolutionary selection because of their beneficial effects. That’s interesting stuff-and it is certainly nice to hear something positive about psychosis.

Source: Scientific Blogging

DSM V and the diagnosing of human behavior

“A recent story in U.S. News and World Report states, ’The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, as it is known, is hugely influential because it determines what is and is not a mental disorder. In turn, it is responsible for much of the sales growth in prescription drugs.’  In a recent article in Psychiatric Times Dr. Allen Frances discusses his concerns about the way the next version of the DSM is being formulated and the possibility that formerly normal human behaviors will be become ‘medicalized’.”

The revamp of the DSM is certainly cause for concern because it heavily influences the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness and the influence of pharmaceutical companies is alarming. Labeling typical human behavior as an illness could further complicate the issues already on the table.

I continued reading through this article and agreed with mostly all of it until…..

Normal Human Behavior is Now a Permanent Disability

When human behavior is redefined as a chemical imbalance and treated like diabetes or thyroid disorder it dooms the patient to a lifetime illness.  If you view “mood swings” as Bipolar Disorder and classify them as a chemical imbalance you doom the patient to a lifetime of “mood stabilizers” and psychiatric treatment.  The patient can never be healed and never recover.  They will always have to be on meds.  They will always be “abnormal” or “ill”.  Instead of having clients who were treated with psychotherapy and recovered we now have permanent patients.

Maybe it’s just too early in the morning or I am reading too much into this. Are you saying that bipolar disorder is simply mood swings or are you trying to say that people with simple mood swings will end up being diagnosed with bipolar disorder? I’ll take the time to clear up the possible misconceptions.

I have said over and over that bipolar disorder is an illness, much like diabetes, that requires treatment. I stand by my statement. I believe the author is trying to say that people are being or will be diagnosed with bipolar disorder when they don’t actually have the illness.

• Bipolar disorder is a real illness and it sometimes requires the use of medication.

• Bipolar disorder won’t “go away” but you can experience lengthy periods of stability.

If you have mood swings this does not mean that you have bipolar disorder. Everyone has mood swings and it is perfectly normal. Bipolar disorder is characterized by severe mood swings that impair a person’s ability to function on several levels.

Abnormal? I don’t consider myself abnormal and I have been in and out of therapy for years trying to “get cured” before I figured out that it wouldn’t result in recovery-but it can help with management and coping. Please don’t add to all of the “it’s all in your head”, “you have to want to be better”, “there’s nothing wrong with you” comments that many of us are just plain sick of hearing. I’m sure you don’t mean it that way, but people with little understanding of the disorder will take it that way.

“One of the more prevalent complaints about diagnostic procedures is that they are very subjective and highly dependent upon the background, knowledge and individual prejudices of the clinician making the diagnosis.  Currently, many clinicians are complaining that ADHD and Bipolar Disorder are heavily overdiagnosed and indeed it has been my experience that there is a heavy prejudice in favor of diagnosing these two ‘illnesses’.  It is interesting that these are also two diagnoses for which there are ‘new’ medications on the market which are being heavily pushed by the drug companies.”

A doctor’s clinical experience can also color the way they diagnose.  A doctor working at the state hospital where the most serious cases often land has seen patients with much more serious symptoms than a psychiatrist in private practice.  The state hospital psychiatrist may be less likely to diagnose a patient experiencing mild symptoms with a serious mental illness than the private psychiatrist who is not regularly exposed to patients with more severe symptoms.  I see this a lot with Bipolar Disorder.  A state hospital psychiatrist will expect to see full blown mania and seriously debilitating depression in order to render the diagnosis while a private practice psychiatrist may diagnose a client with Bipolar Disorder who merely complains of ‘mood swings’.”

I agree. Bipolar disorder is overdiagnosed. Not only are people being diagnosed with bipolar disorder who simply don’t have it, but people who more likely have other mental illnesses are also being diagnosed with bipolar disorder adding to the cases being misdiagnosed. I know people who have symptoms that clearly point towards other mental illnesses who received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and a prescription for mood stabilizers. Either way, they are receiving a medication that they don’t need and are likely to become “hooked” on some of the new meds that just seem to be engineered to be addictive. Some people must remain in treatment simply because they can’t get past withdrawals to stop taking medication. Who is to blame? All sides. Pharmaceutical companies place pressure on doctors to prescribe their drugs. Doctors diagnose patients and prescribe the drugs. Patients accept the diagnosis without question and start taking the drugs only to realize some time in the future that something isn’t right. Voila! Hooked on prescription medication that they didn’t need.

What am I saying here? If you have been diagnosed with a mental illness of any type, seek a second opinion before jumping in to anything unless treatment must not be delayed. People often seek a second opinion for medical issues. Mental health issues should be no different. Don’t just accept a diagnosis-confirm it.

I spent more than a decade dealing with varying symptoms. I was diagnosed with depression after I became suicidal and that diagnosis didn’t change for years. Three or four different doctors suggested that the symptoms could be bipolar disorder but I continued treatment for depression. It was only after I began experiencing full blown psychosis that I received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder just a few years ago. My doctors erred on the cautious side and I feel confident in my diagnosis because I know my symptoms are consistent with those of bipolar disorder and I have experienced them for about 21 years now. Don’t just assume that your doctor knows what he is talking about. Make sure! Treatment for something you don’t have and not be treating for something you do have will not be beneficial to you and YOU are what matters.

Source: Mental Health Blogs

Reasons why Ms Ris Low should keep her crown

“Ris Low, 19, has been attracting catty comments, even from men, about her broken English, err, Singlish, after she competed in the interview segment of the Miss Singapore World contest and won it. It has also been discovered that she had a criminal record for a credit card fraud and is still on probation. Furthermore, today the national paper revealed she also suffers from bipolar disorder(maic depressive) and is under psychiatric care and medication. Netizens have been baying for her blood, demanding that she give up the crown because she is not a worthy representative of Singapore to the Miss World contest in December 2009.

I beg to differ. There are several reasons why we should let her continue to represent us:  It will show the world that Singapore is a gracious society and forgiving of failures. Secondly, she will inspire with hope and possibilities those with a criminal record and are striving to go straight.  Thirdly, she will also inspire the millions of people who suffer from mental illnesses. These people do not deserve the stigma that the majority attach to them. She will be a beacon of hope and a good role model to them. Fourth, she will show the world the unique charm of Singlish (and what the majority of the Singapore population sound like!). Lastly, she is the most unique Miss Singapore World so far. In fact, there is only one word to describe Miss Ris Low: she is just so Boomz!”

I can sum up my feelings about this quickly: “Thirdly, she will also inspire the millions of people who suffer from mental illnesses. These people do not deserve the stigma that the majority attach to them. She will be a beacon of hope and a good role model to them.” Thank you so much for your understanding and great attitude about mental illness! It is greatly appreciated and we need more like-minded people in the world!

Source: Blog Pastor

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Categories: About Bipolar Disorder, Bipolar 1, Bipolar 2, Cyclothymia, My Personal Experiences, NOS, Psychosis
Tags: about, all, behavior, beneficial, bipolar, creativity, Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, disorder, DSM, DSM V, genetic, health, hope, illness, link, Low, mental, Miss Singapore, mood swings, Ms, overdiagnosed, pharmaceutical, Psychosis, Ris, second opinion, Singapore, stigma, update, variation