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Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by drastic shifts in mood, energy, and behavior. It’s estimated that approximately 2.8% of the US population suffers from this disorder annually, making it one of the most common mental health conditions. When left untreated, bipolar disorder can have a significant impact on someone’s social, occupational, and academic functioning. Fortunately, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) provides an effective set of diagnostic criteria that can help mental health professionals identify and treat this disorder.
What You Should Know About Bipolar Disorder Symptoms
The DSM-5 outlines several symptoms of bipolar disorder, including dramatic shifts in mood, energy, and behavior. Someone with bipolar disorder may experience severe highs (manic or hypomanic episodes) and extreme lows (depressive episodes). During the highs, a person may exhibit unusually happy and energized behavior, as well as inflated self-esteem, racing thoughts, and an increased need for risk-taking. In contrast, during a depressive episode, someone may experience feelings of sadness, hopelessness, low self-esteem, excessive guilt, and a lack of energy.
Unpacking the DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Bipolar Disorder
In order for someone to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, they must meet the criteria outlined in the DSM-5. According to the DSM-5, a person must have experienced at least one manic or hypomanic episode lasting a minimum of one week in order to be given a diagnosis. In addition, they must also experience at least one episode of major depression, along with additional symptoms such as racing thoughts, difficulty sleeping, and difficulty concentrating. Furthermore, the DSM-5 requires that the symptoms must interfere with a person’s everyday functioning in order to be considered bipolar disorder.
Gaining Deeper Insight Into Bipolar Disorder
The DSM-5 provides mental health professionals with an effective method of diagnosing bipolar disorder. However, many mental health professionals believe that it is important to gain deeper insight into the disorder in order to provide more comprehensive treatment. This is why many mental health professionals are now turning to psychodynamic theories in order to gain a better understanding of bipolar disorder and its underlying causes.
Unveiling the Complexities of Bipolar Disorder
Psychodynamic theories help mental health professionals gain insight into the underlying causes of bipolar disorder. For instance, many psychodynamic theorists believe that bipolar disorder is caused by underlying feelings of unresolved trauma and emotional conflict. These feelings may have been experienced during childhood, or they may have been passed down through generations of a family. By understanding the complexities of bipolar disorder, mental health professionals can develop more effective treatments that can provide lasting relief.
Examining Bipolar Disorder Through the DSM-5 Lens
The DSM-5 provides a valuable tool for diagnosing bipolar disorder. However, mental health professionals must go beyond the DSM-5 in order to gain a better understanding of the disorder. By utilizing psychodynamic theories, mental health professionals can gain insight into the underlying causes of the disorder, which can inform more effective treatments. In order to ensure that someone who is diagnosed with bipolar disorder receives the best possible care, mental health professionals should be familiar with both the DSM-5 criteria and psychodynamic theories.
The DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing bipolar disorder provides mental health professionals with an effective method for identifying and treating this disorder. However, gaining insight into the underlying causes and complexities of bipolar disorder is essential for providing more comprehensive care. By utilizing both the DSM-5 and psychodynamic theories, mental health professionals can better understand and treat bipolar disorder.
Sources
- Ketter, T. (2020). Manic depression: Bipolar disorder and its treatment. Oxford University Press.
- Vieta, E., Johnson, S., & Tohen, M. (2020). Bipolar disorder. Oxford University Press.
- Ghaemi, S. N. (2019). The bipolar disorder survival guide, third edition: What you and your family need to know. Guilford Publications.
