Discussion: Research Findings on the Psychological Causes and Treatments of Bipolar Disorder
We've covered past research that demonstrates how high levels of certain kinds of expressed emotion have negative effects on the mental health of children. Recently, researchers at the University of Colorado discussed current research supporting this past research on bipolar disorder. A new story highlights their findings:
Bipolar disorder is "a highly recurrent and debilitating illness." Research has demonstrated that certain types of expressed-emotion affect the development of bipolar disorder. Basically, certain negative attitudes in the home or from peers (such as critical ones, i.e., criticism) can increase not only the risk of developing bipolar disorder, but also the risk of relapsing after development. [Read More About the Effects of Expressed Emotion Here.]
Symptoms of bipolar disorder are primarily treated by medication but can also benefit from simultaneous therapy. Past research has demonstrated that a combination of family-focused therapy and medications can "...delay...relapses and reduce... symptom severity among patients followed over the course of 1 to 2 years..." [Read More About Family-Focused Therapy Here.]
The researchers further stated that the effectiveness of family-focused therapy on delaying the development and relapse of bipolar disorder, specifically in the case of adolescents and children at high risk for the illness, are currently being investigated.
This discussion of up-to-date research findings brings up the important psychological factors at play in the development of mental illness in children and adolescents. Knowledge about these factors is essential to preventing the possible development or relapse of bipolar disorder.
Related Reading: CU professor to pioneer new bipolar disorder study
Listen to this Podcast (audio recording): Click on the following link and then scroll down to the podcast named: BIPOLAR DISORDER; Scientists at University of Colorado discuss research in bipolar disorder.
Posted by szwriter at November 12, 2007 6:07 PM
More Information on
Bipolar Disorder Research Study
My son ended his life 11/19 because his medicine wasnt working..in 4 months he was on 5 different meds.. I dont know the name of the med. He said his mind was messing with him and wasnt right.. He was confused, couldnt carry on a conversation depressed, sat with his head down and was trying to deal with what the doctors gave him.He was in the AirForce for 5 years and from papers we have found had this problem then, but nothing done about it. I feel like I failed him because I didnt know enough about this sickness. Please we need to educate ourselves about this to help others..
Posted by: jkeith at December 16, 2007 9:15 PM
JKeith, I am sorry to hear about your son. I'm sure people tell you, time and again, it is not your failure and not your fault. Anyone who raises a son or daughter who can get into the Air Force and be there for five years, must actually have been doing much right. I am sad that your son made such a difficult decision, especially one that is so wrenching for family. Yet I am sure he would have wanted the best for you, even as you wanted that for him. Please take care of yourself in the most difficult of times.
Posted by: Elisa Mann at December 27, 2007 10:07 PM
jkeith,
I am so sorry for your loss. I am bipolar myself and had an episode over the holidays that was the wurst one to date. I am so thankful that there is sites like this that we can communicate and maybe help each other during our times of need.
Take Care & God Bless!!!! Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Girot at January 10, 2008 1:21 PM
jkeith,
My deepest sympathy. The hardest thing not to do is blame yourself. I went to several courses to understand that there is nothing that we can do to prevent suicide only be there when manic episodes happen, and if you did not know was a problem there is nothing you could of done about it. People who have this illness are very good at diguising that there is something wrong. Denial runs deep. "I don't need medication!", my daughters favorite saying.
God bless!
Help me Lynn,
Our daughter was diagnosed bipolar 5 years ago and is now going through a manic phase (started back on 1/2/08) which anything I say is wrong. She just got her diploma in Industrial Design but still feels like a failure. Her father has been traveling for work so when he is gone on business sheer panic arises in her. She wants to go off her meds and is charging things like crazy, I took her card away and she was very angry with me over that. She has never been physcial but very verbal on the abuse she hands me especially when her dad is out of town. We love her so much but she does not feel that we do, she says we favor her younger brother which is not true. He joined the Navy just so he did not have to be around her anymore. Her episodes usually happen around Christmas because this is when her favorite Art teacher died of cancer. She has so much talent we just wish she could see it the way we do. Everything I said to her today she took the wrong way.
She is now at work and will not be home until 10:30pm which will make for little sleep since I have to get up at 5:00am and I need to make sure she is ok when she gets home.
Love will prevail!
Posted by: lmg at January 24, 2008 5:16 PM
My 21 year old nephew was just diagnosed with bipolar. His first year of College he went into a depression and this year had manic episodes. My sister and husband and family are beside themselves. My nephew is the sweetest person you'd ever want to meet. My question is, where did this come from all of a sudden. He was always ok never had any problems, why now? Does all of a sudden the brain have a chemical imbalance? If anyone has an answer to this question, I would really appreciate knowing. Thanks
Posted by: Maureen at January 26, 2008 12:12 PM
bipolar takes a long time to get use to the meds
i have been doing this for 10 years and do very well now, you have to teach your mind to shut up all the time, it does work if you do it all the time.
Posted by: keith turbo at February 1, 2008 10:51 AM
All my life I have talked without having a period at the end of a sentence. I interrupt everyone that talks. A friend of mine, told me to stop when another person is talking and count to 123. Most of the time, I can't remember to do this. I have started to hold my hands so tight so I won't interrupt people. That is so rude, I just can't help it. Two years ago, my doctor placed me on so much medicine and I was also drinking alcohol at night, I had a seizure and had to have the back of my head stapled with nine staples, then for eight days fell into a coma. Please get another doctor's opinion about your medicine, please check out the Internet about mixing drugs. Doctors are wrong a LOT and cause deaths with people. Please be careful. No one will look out for you,,,,,,,,except YOU. god bless you.
Posted by: June at February 5, 2008 9:07 AM
I know someone who has bipolar disorder. In my essay writing class we have to write an expository essay. I have chosen bipolar disorder as mine. I am so sorry for anyone who has encountered the loss of a loved one due to this illiness. I hope to educate more about it through my paper. I feel this is a serious topic. And good luck to all of you who have bipolar disorder. Things always get worse before they get better. I hope the best for everyone.
Posted by: megan at April 22, 2008 2:27 PM
img, Let your daughter know what state she is in when she is calmer. Give her the facts about her disorder when she is in a calm or more depressed mood. When some one is manic you really can't reach them the way you can if they are coming back to earth so to speak. I know I have bipolar disorder. A suggestion that helped us was when I am in a manic state my family and friends have to tell me my brain is lieing to me again. I can laugh because it sometimes brings me back down quicker and makes the landing easier. She has to have ALL the facts about her disorder so she can deal with it herself too.
Posted by: Dee at May 2, 2008 8:40 PM
My daughter was diagnosied back in September of 2007 with bipolar dosorder and ADHD. I think she has had it since she was 2 to 3 years old. She gets so angry and she herself cannot explain why. When she was 14, she was experimenting with alchol and ended up in a bad situation with a 20 year old boy, since that happened, she has went through stages of cutting herself, phsyically lashing out at me and her dad, hurting herself and being distructive to property.
They started her out on Lithium, then another drug I cannot remember the name of, now she is taking Wellburton and Carbamazepine.
Posted by: BK at May 4, 2008 8:33 AM
My son ended his life 11/19 because his medicine wasnt working..in 4 months he was on 5 different meds.. I dont know the name of the med. He said his mind was messing with him and wasnt right.. He was confused, couldnt carry on a conversation depressed, sat with his head down and was trying to deal with what the doctors gave him.He was in the AirForce for 5 years and from papers we have found had this problem then, but nothing done about it. I feel like I failed him because I didnt know enough about this sickness. Please we need to educate ourselves about this to help others..
Posted by: jkeith at December 16, 2007 9:15 PM
JKeith, I am sorry to hear about your son. I'm sure people tell you, time and again, it is not your failure and not your fault. Anyone who raises a son or daughter who can get into the Air Force and be there for five years, must actually have been doing much right. I am sad that your son made such a difficult decision, especially one that is so wrenching for family. Yet I am sure he would have wanted the best for you, even as you wanted that for him. Please take care of yourself in the most difficult of times.
Posted by: Elisa Mann at December 27, 2007 10:07 PM
jkeith,
I am so sorry for your loss. I am bipolar myself and had an episode over the holidays that was the wurst one to date. I am so thankful that there is sites like this that we can communicate and maybe help each other during our times of need.
Take Care & God Bless!!!! Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Girot at January 10, 2008 1:21 PM
jkeith,
My deepest sympathy. The hardest thing not to do is blame yourself. I went to several courses to understand that there is nothing that we can do to prevent suicide only be there when manic episodes happen, and if you did not know was a problem there is nothing you could of done about it. People who have this illness are very good at diguising that there is something wrong. Denial runs deep. "I don't need medication!", my daughters favorite saying.
God bless!
Help me Lynn,
Our daughter was diagnosed bipolar 5 years ago and is now going through a manic phase (started back on 1/2/08) which anything I say is wrong. She just got her diploma in Industrial Design but still feels like a failure. Her father has been traveling for work so when he is gone on business sheer panic arises in her. She wants to go off her meds and is charging things like crazy, I took her card away and she was very angry with me over that. She has never been physcial but very verbal on the abuse she hands me especially when her dad is out of town. We love her so much but she does not feel that we do, she says we favor her younger brother which is not true. He joined the Navy just so he did not have to be around her anymore. Her episodes usually happen around Christmas because this is when her favorite Art teacher died of cancer. She has so much talent we just wish she could see it the way we do. Everything I said to her today she took the wrong way.
She is now at work and will not be home until 10:30pm which will make for little sleep since I have to get up at 5:00am and I need to make sure she is ok when she gets home.
Love will prevail!
Posted by: lmg at January 24, 2008 5:16 PM
My 21 year old nephew was just diagnosed with bipolar. His first year of College he went into a depression and this year had manic episodes. My sister and husband and family are beside themselves. My nephew is the sweetest person you'd ever want to meet. My question is, where did this come from all of a sudden. He was always ok never had any problems, why now? Does all of a sudden the brain have a chemical imbalance? If anyone has an answer to this question, I would really appreciate knowing. Thanks
Posted by: Maureen at January 26, 2008 12:12 PM
bipolar takes a long time to get use to the meds
i have been doing this for 10 years and do very well now, you have to teach your mind to shut up all the time, it does work if you do it all the time.
Posted by: keith turbo at February 1, 2008 10:51 AM
All my life I have talked without having a period at the end of a sentence. I interrupt everyone that talks. A friend of mine, told me to stop when another person is talking and count to 123. Most of the time, I can't remember to do this. I have started to hold my hands so tight so I won't interrupt people. That is so rude, I just can't help it. Two years ago, my doctor placed me on so much medicine and I was also drinking alcohol at night, I had a seizure and had to have the back of my head stapled with nine staples, then for eight days fell into a coma. Please get another doctor's opinion about your medicine, please check out the Internet about mixing drugs. Doctors are wrong a LOT and cause deaths with people. Please be careful. No one will look out for you,,,,,,,,except YOU. god bless you.
Posted by: June at February 5, 2008 9:07 AM
I know someone who has bipolar disorder. In my essay writing class we have to write an expository essay. I have chosen bipolar disorder as mine. I am so sorry for anyone who has encountered the loss of a loved one due to this illiness. I hope to educate more about it through my paper. I feel this is a serious topic. And good luck to all of you who have bipolar disorder. Things always get worse before they get better. I hope the best for everyone.
Posted by: megan at April 22, 2008 2:27 PM
img, Let your daughter know what state she is in when she is calmer. Give her the facts about her disorder when she is in a calm or more depressed mood. When some one is manic you really can't reach them the way you can if they are coming back to earth so to speak. I know I have bipolar disorder. A suggestion that helped us was when I am in a manic state my family and friends have to tell me my brain is lieing to me again. I can laugh because it sometimes brings me back down quicker and makes the landing easier. She has to have ALL the facts about her disorder so she can deal with it herself too.
Posted by: Dee at May 2, 2008 8:40 PM
My daughter was diagnosied back in September of 2007 with bipolar dosorder and ADHD. I think she has had it since she was 2 to 3 years old. She gets so angry and she herself cannot explain why. When she was 14, she was experimenting with alchol and ended up in a bad situation with a 20 year old boy, since that happened, she has went through stages of cutting herself, phsyically lashing out at me and her dad, hurting herself and being distructive to property.
They started her out on Lithium, then another drug I cannot remember the name of, now she is taking Wellburton and Carbamazepine.
Posted by: BK at May 4, 2008 8:33 AM