Any kind of a mental illness

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Bipolar Disorder
Introduction
Bipolar disorder, sometimes known as manic-depressive illness, refers to a brain disorder that occasions unusual changes in mood, activity levels, energy, as well as the ability to accomplish routine tasks effectively. Four types of bipolar disorder exist, with all involving patent changes in mood and levels of activity. These include bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, cyclothymia (also known as cyclothymic disorder), and other unspecified or specified bipolar or related disorders (Lewis 7). Bipolar I disorder is usually typified by manic episodes that endure for at least seven days. These episodes are usually severe that the individual may need hospital care and depressive episodes may also occur, usually lasting at least fourteen days. Conversely, bipolar II disorder is usually characterized by hypomanic and depressive episodes without the manic episodes that characterize bipolar I disorder while cyclothymia is usually defined by several interludes of hypomanic and depressive symptoms that last for at least a year in adolescents and children (two years in adults). It is worth noting that bipolar disorder may occur in patterns that do not match the symptoms of the aforementioned categories, hence the classification “other unspecified or specified bipolar or related disorders.”
The Causes of Bipolar Disorder
The exact causes of bipolar disorder are yet to be understood. However, the disorder appears to run in families, pointing to the possible role of genetics in the development of this mood disorder.

Evidence on the role of the environment and lifestyle choices on the development of bipolar disorder is also mounting. Alcohol and substance abuse, as well as stressful life events, can make the disorder exceedingly difficult to treat. Overall, while the exact causes of the condition remain unknown, several factors are believe to contribute towards causing it, namely genetics, medical illnesses, brain chemicals, as well as environmental factors and stressful life events.
Genetic Inheritance
A high likelihood exists among those who experience bipolar disorder that a family member also experienced or is experiencing bipolar moods and symptoms. This suggests that the disorder might be hereditary. Research has con-firmed that bipolar disorder is often inherited, with genetic factors comprising approximately 80 to 90 percent of the causes (Fleisher 452). A child has a ten percent chance of developing bipolar disorder if one parent has illness. This rises to forty percent if both parents have the illness. Nevertheless, one family having the condition does not necessarily mean that other members will develop the condition as well.
Medical Illnesses
While medical illnesses do not cause bipolar disorder per se, in some instances, they can cause the symptoms that could be mistaken for hypomania or mania. Certain illegal stimulants and some medications can also bring about hypomanic and manic symptoms. Additionally, antidepressants can also produce hypomanic or manic episodes in vulnerable individuals and, therefore, it is imperative to report any curious or abnormal symptoms to the prescribing physician while on such medications.
Brain Chemistry
The symptoms of bipolar disorder can be treated using psychiatric medications that act on the messenger chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain, which suggests that the illness may be the result of problems associated with the functioning of the said neurotransmitters. A recent hypothesis on the cause of the illness is that bipolar disorder is caused by abnormal brain serotonin chemistry (Carrard et al. 450). Serotonin is among the numerous neurotransmitters in the brain that has a strong effect on the mood of the individual. Abnormal serotonin chemistry is thought to cause mood disorders such as bipolar disorder due to its feedback effect on other chemicals in the brain. However, while it may be one of the causes of the illness, it is doubtful that it is the only messenger chemical involved.
Environmental Factors and Stressful Life Events
Extremely stressful life events, such as poverty or financial worries, relationship breakdown, or traumatic losses have been linked to the onset of bipolar disorder. Even though low levels of stress are not likely to cause the illness, they can cause episodes of depression or mania. However, even though the onset of the illness may be linked to stressful life events, it is believed that stress itself cannot be an antecedent of bipolar disorder. Environmental factors also play a role. For example, seasonal increases in the number of hours of bright sunshine in the late spring are believed to trigger mania and depression through the effect on the pineal gland (Goodwin et al. 254; Schlaepfer and Charles 279).
Prevalence of the Illness
The lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorder is judged to be relatively small, standing at 1.0 percent for bipolar I, 1.1 percent for bipolar II, and 2.4 percent for bipolar threshold (the two other subtypes) (Pini et al. 425). This leads to an overall prevalence of 4.4 percent. It is worth noting that estimates of lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorder across the world seem to be remarkably consistent, with most ranging from 0.82 to 1.0 percent for bipolar I disorder. Interestingly, gender, race, and ethnicity seem to have no observable effect on the prevalence of the illness, even though women are more likely to experience depressive episodes, mixed states, rapid cycling, and bipolar II disorder compared to men (Fleisher 452). There is roughly an equal prevalence of the illness among women and men for bipolar I disorder. However, because women often record a higher prevalence of major depressive disorders, it is unsurprising that the prevalence of bipolar II is slightly higher among women.
Symptoms
Bipolar disorder is usually typified by extreme mood swings that can range from depression (extreme lows) to mania (extreme highs), with episodes lasting for many weeks or even months. During the depressive phase, the symptoms may include difficulties in concentrating or recalling things; feelings of sadness, irritability, or hopelessness; lack of energy; being delusional, experiencing hallucinations, and illogical or disturbed thinking; a loss of interest in routine activities; suicidal thoughts; pessimism; as well as feelings of self-doubt and worthlessness (Wootton 24). Other symptoms of the depressive phase include insomnia, a lack of appetite, and waking up unusually early. Conversely, the manic phase is usually characterized by symptoms such as agitation, feelings of happiness and elation, feelings of self-importance, doing things with ruinous consequences (such as buying expensive and unnecessary things), grandiose ideas and delusions, being easily distracted, as well as uttering things or making decisions that are harmful of out of character (Wootton 24).
Treatment
The goal of bipolar disorder treatment is to reduce the severity and frequency of depressive and manic episodes and permit normal life. An accurate diagnosis of the condition is the first step in effectively treating the illness, even though this is not usually easy because the mood swings associated with the condition can be tremendously difficult to tell apart from other mental conditions, such as borderline personality disorder, major depression, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Therefore, it usually takes numerous visits, sometimes spanning years, before the illness is properly identified and treated. To diagnose the disorder, a psychological evaluation is usually carried out alongside physical and medical history evaluation. It is particularly important to screen for thyroid disorders since these can occasion mood swings that are similar to those of bipolar disorder.
A comprehensive treatment plan involves medication, psychotherapy, education, and support. Medication constitutes the mainstay of bipolar disorder treatment since mood stabilizing medication play an important role in minimizing the lows and highs of the illness, thereby keeping symptoms under control. Psychotherapy is also essential in with the problems that the illness can occasion. Working with a therapist can enable a person with bipolar disorder manage stress, cope with discomfiting or difficult feelings, and repair relationships. Similarly, preventing complications and effectively managing symptoms starts with the knowledge of the illness. In this regard, the more an individual and his or her family know about the disorder, the better able they will be to avert potential problems and cope with any setbacks. Lastly, because bipolar disorder is usually a challenging condition, having a solid and consistent support can be important. Taking part in bipolar support groups can give individuals suffering from the condition the occasion to share their experiences while also learning from others who are going through similar experiences. Support from family and friends is also very useful.
Conclusion
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that is usually typified by unusual changes in mood, activity levels, energy, as well as the ability to accomplish routine tasks effectively. Even though the precise causes of the condition remain unidentified, several factors are believe to contribute towards causing it. These include genetics, medical illnesses, brain chemicals, as well as environmental factors and stressful life events. The lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorder remains relatively small and the symptoms can be categorized according to extreme mood swings that can range from depression (extreme lows) to mania (extreme highs). Overall, an effectual treatment plan involves medication, psychotherapy, education, and support.

Works Cited
Carrard, Anthony, Annick Salzmann, Alain Malafosse, and Félicien Karege. “Increased DNA Methylation Status of the Serotonin Receptor 5HTR1A Gene Promoter in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder.” Journal of Affective Disorders. 132.3 (2011): 450-453. Print.
Fleisher, Lee A. Anesthesia and Uncommon Diseases. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders, 2012. Print.
Goodwin, Frederick K, Kay R. Jamison, and S N. Ghaemi. Manic-depressive Illness: Bipolar Disorders and Recurrent Depression. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007. Print.
Lewis, Frederick T. “Demystifying the Disease State: Understanding Diagnosis and Treatment Across the Bipolar Spectrum.” Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. 10.3 (2004): 6-15. Print.
Pini, Stefano, Queiroz V. de, Daniel Pagnin, Lukas Pezawas, Jules Angst, Giovanni B. Cassano, and Hans-Ulrich Wittchen. “Prevalence and Burden of Bipolar Disorders in European Countries.” European Neuropsychopharmacology. 15.4 (2005): 425-434. Print.
Schlaepfer, Thomas E, and Charles B. Nemeroff. Neurobiology of Psychiatric Disorders. Edinburgh: Elsevier, 2012. Print.
Wootton, Tom. The Bipolar Advantage. Bloomington: BipolarAdvantage, 2005. Print.