Psychology Reflection Paper

Psychology Reflection Paper
[Name of the Writer]
[Name of the Institution]

Psychology Reflection Paper
The human mind is an enigma having quite complicated functions and more specifically emotional behaviors. From time to time, we make different decisions based on our behaviors and attitudes. Nevertheless, the human mind is also prone to different anomalies that results in mood disorders. My particular interest is in mood related disorders in people and its different implications.
This area of psychology has fascinated me since the start of my psychology classes. For me, the mental disorders are the most fascinating subjects as it is quite common among the masses. From the basic perspective of enhancing the understanding of this problem, I have also gone through different useful literature that will be further discussed onwards.
In order to enhance my professional knowledge of mood disorders, I have referred to my book and have found a number of fascinating topics in it. The quite common disorders that were mentioned in the textbook and in different research pieces of literature include bipolar disorders, depressive disorders and substance-induced mood related disorders. Each of these disorders has further been classified into a number of subclasses. I have developed a keen interest in understanding these disorders because of my niece had been diagnosed with a case of bipolar disorder last year. Surely, it was quite tragic news for me; however, it has provided me a chance to provide better outlooks for enhancing my working knowledge related to the subject.

Also, in this manner, I can assess her conditions much more closely unlike any other psychology student.
As a brief definition mentioned in Power (2004), Bipolar disorders are nothing but the emotional condition that is quite commonly demarcated via depression, mania and cycles of abnormal behaviors. The Bipolar disorder is further classified into Bipolar I, Cyclothymia, Bipolar II and BD-NOS (known as Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified). On talking to her physician, I have come to know that she is suffering from Bipolar I disorder. Specifically, this disorder is quite commonly due to previous manic episodes that can be one or many in nature. During her initial stages of childhood, she has seen the divorce of her parents and I think that it might be the real reason behind her disorder. Nevertheless, she is becoming much better after its diagnoses because of different medications and treatments as part of it.
This incident has brought about great interest within me to enhance my knowledge about mood disorders in general. In order to do so, I have started to read as much literature that I can. Particularly, I have used my textbook for any reference and have read the relevant references that were mentioned in those specific parts of the book. However, I have also conducted some research from my own to allow me a better perspective of mood disorders. A study conducted by Cassidy et al. (2001) was quite eloquent in describing the problem based on substance abuse. Also, the study provides an outlook of substance abuse rate based on sexual orientation and age groups.
Another study that has quite amazed me includes Kessler et al. (2001); the study was quite far better understanding of this problem. The study requires further research in certain grounds; however, it has provided a retrospective analysis of the tendency of mood disorders among children and more specifically, adolescents. The study has concluded that more than 50% of the youngsters suffer from major depression and around 90% of those youngsters who have suffered from mania, had also continued to have reoccurrences in adulthood. Both of these two studies have provided me the insight regarding the problem and its penetration within American society. Surely, there is a vast majority of people suffering from these mood disorders, and they have to take medications in order to have sane. By looking at the bigger picture, if these disorders have been completely cured rather than cured on time to time basis, the major cost of producing these pharmaceutical would be completely eliminated. Also, it would enable the United States Government to dedicate much amount of funds in other domains of healthcare and society development sector.
Although, a more targeted study that has fascinated me includes the impacts of mood disorders on workers’ performance and lost workdays. Kessler et al. (2006) have conducted the study, and the results were quite fruitful in determining the workplace environment and the level of work-related stresses on workers. It has been found that as part of major depression disorder, companies suffer from 27.2 lost workdays per year per sick worker. However, the study has also urged the employers to consider bipolar disorder as part of their corporate role.
All in all, mood disorders are one of the best subjects of research in psychology. Nevertheless, from my view, careful diagnostics and medication can provide much better result in reducing the escalating rate of mood disorder cases. Also, the development of much research in this domain would allow a formulation of much effective and highly-targeted medication for the sick people all around the United States.
References
Cassidy, F., Ahearn, E. P., & Carroll, B. J. (2001). Substance abuse in bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disorders, 3(4), 181-188.
Kessler, R. C., Akiskal, H. S., Ames, M., Birnbaum, H., Greenberg, P., Jin, R., … & Wang, P. S. (2006). Prevalence and effects of mood disorders on work performance in a nationally representative sample of US workers. The American journal of psychiatry, 163(9).Kessler, R. C., Avenevoli, S., & Merikangas, K. R. (2001). Mood disorders in children and adolescents: an epidemiologic perspective. Biological psychiatry,49(12), 1002-1014.
Power, M. (Ed.). (2004). Mood disorders: a handbook of science and practice. John Wiley & Sons.