Cyclothymic Disorder Cyclothymic disorder, also known as cyclothymia, is a relatively mild form of bipolar II disorder characterized by mood swings that may appear to be almost within the normal range of emotions. These mood swings range from mild depression, or dysthymia, to mania of low intensity, or hypomania. It is possible for cyclothymia to go undiagnosed, and for individuals with the disorder to be unaware that they have a treatable disease. Individuals with cyclothymia may experience episodes of low-level depression, known as dysthymia; periods of intense energy, creativity, and/or irritability, known as hypomania; or they may alternate between both mood states. Like other bipolar disorders, cyclothymia is a chronic illness characterized by mood swings that can occur as often as every day and last for several days, weeks, months, or as long as two years. Individuals with this disorder are never free of symptoms of either hypomania or mild depression for more than two months at a time (Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders). The German psychiatrist Ewald Hecker introduced the concept of cyclothymia in 1877, but its definition has evolved from a mild problem with mood to its current status, in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), as a mood disorder alongside bipolar disorder and major depression. Cyclothymic disorder also appears in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), published by the World Health Organization. Those who have this disorder usually fail to recognize it as well as doctors who treat them due to the fine line between pathological and normal mood swings (Colino, 2005). Cyclothymic Disorder often begins early in life and is sometimes considered to reflect a temper... ... middle of paper ... ...rences Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders: Br-Del. http://www.minddisorders.com/Br-Del/Cyclothymic-disorder.html. Retrieved April 10, 2006. Bipolar Disorder Today. Cyclothmic Disorder. DSM IV Criteria. http://www.mental-health-today.com/bp/cyclo.htm Retrieved April 10, 2006. Colino, S. A Sudden Shift in Moods. With Cyclothymia, a Milder Form Of Bipolar Disorder, Life's Little Ups and Downs Can Loom Large. Washington Post, December 20, 2005. http://www.biopsychiatry.com/misc/cyclothymia.html. Retrieved April 8, 2006. Cyclothymic Disorder. http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section15/chapter189/189e.jsp. Retrieved April 8, 2006. Cyclothmic Disorder. http://www.minddisorders.com/Br-Del/Cyclothymic-disorder.html. Retrieved April 9, 2006. Cyclothmic Disorder Treatment. http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx38t.htm. Retrieved April 10, 2006.
Bipolar Disorder (Formerly known as Manic Depression) is a mental illness linked to alterations in moods such as mood swings, mania, and depression. There is more than one type, Bipolar I and Bipolar II, and the subcategories are divided by the severity of the symptoms seen, such as cyclothymic disorder, seasonal mood changes, rapid cycling disorder and psychosis. Age of onset usually occurs between 15-30 years old with an average onset of 25 years old but it can affect all ages. (Harvard Medical School; Massachusetts General Hospital , 2013) Bipolar disorder affects more than two million people in the United States every year. (Gardner, 2011)
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Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function.
In life we all go through experiences that cause our moods to change for better or for worse. There are times that we experience degrees of great joy and happiness just as other times we experience great sadness and despair. These polar emotional opposites can be brought about by a cornucopia of circumstances such as the joy and excitement of getting married or the birth of a child to the deep sadness and grief over the loss of a loved one or one’s employment. Feelings of joy and feelings of sadness are normal parts of human life. Some however are unfortunate enough to be force to cope with these emotions to the extreme and on a regular basis. Some individuals must further cope with an ever present emotion rollercoaster, switching from one emotional extreme to the next with regularity. This personality disorder is known as bipolar disorder.
Bipolar Disorder is the tendency of manic episodes to alternate with major depressive episodes, like a roller coaster. Barlow, D., Durand, M., Stewart, S., & Lalumière, M., 2014, p. 222. Their moods and relationships are unstable and they usually have a very poor self image, recurrent feelings of emptiness and fear of abandonment. Barlow, D., Durand, M., Stewart, S., & Lalumière, M., 2014, p. 444.
History shows that signs of mental illness and abnormal behavior have been documented as far back as the early Greeks however, it was not viewed the same as it is today. The mentally ill were previously referred to as mad, insane, lunatics, or maniacs. W.B. Maher and B.A. Maher (1985) note how many of the terms use had roots in old English words that meant emotionally deranged, hurt, unhealthy, or diseased. Although early explanations were not accurate, the characteristics of the mentally ill have remained the same and these characteristics are used to diagnose disorders to date. Cultural norms have always been used to assess and define abnormal behavior. Currently, we have a decent understanding of the correlates and influences of mental illness. Although we do not have complete knowledge, psychopathologists have better resources, technology, and overall research skills than those in ancient times.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has been used for decades as a guidebook for the diagnosis of mental disorders in clinical settings. As disorders and diagnoses evolve, new versions of the manual are published. This tends to happen every 10 years or so with the first manual (DSM-I) having been published in 1952. For the purpose of this discussion, we will look at the DSM-IV, which was published originally in 1994, and the latest version, DSM-5, that was published in May of 2013. Each version of the DSM contains “three major components: the diagnostic classification, the diagnostic criteria sets, and the descriptive text” (American Psychiatric Association, 2012). Within the diagnostic classification you will find a list of disorders and codes which professionals in the health care field use when a diagnosis is made. The diagnostic criteria will list symptoms of disorders and inform practitioners how long a patient should display those symptoms in order to meet the criteria for diagnosis of a disorder. Lastly, the descriptive text will describe disorders in detail, including topics such as “Prevalence” and “Differential Diagnosis” (APA, 2012). The recent update of the DSM from version IV-TR to 5 has been controversial for many reasons. Some of these reasons include the overall structure of the DSM to the removal of certain disorders from the manual.
Cystic fibrosis is a chronic, inherited, life threatening disease that affects organs in the body, because of sticky and thick mucus buildup on organs. The organs that are affected are the liver, lungs, pancreas, and intestine, which does damage to the respiratory, digestive and reproductive systems (Crosta). Cystic fibrosis is caused by a mutation in a gene called cystic fibrosis trans-membrane regulator, also called CFTR, which has an important function of creating sweat, mucus and digestive juices (Crostra).
Once known as hysteria, in Freud’s time, is now hysterical personality disorder or histrionic personality disorder. Histrionic personality is what is left of Freud’s popular diagnosis of hysteria. Today it is a personality disorder classified in cluster B of the personality disorders. Personality disorders, in general, are characterized as enduring patterns of inner experiences and behavior that deviates from the expectations of the individual’s culture in two or more areas which include cognition, affectivity, interpersonal functioning, and impulse control. The enduring pattern is inflexible and pervasive across a broad range of personal and social situations and the patterns lead to clinically significant impairment or distress (American Psychological Association, 2013). Cluster B personality disorders are the dramatic, emotional, and erratic personality disorders (American Psychological Association, 2013). These personality disorders are the ones that are most damaging to social and person...
These children often show signs of emotional distress and immature behavior at a very young age. These symptoms might affect thei...
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the comprehensive guide to diagnosing psychological disorders. This manual is published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and is currently in its fifth revision. Moreover, the manual is utilized by a multitude of mental health care professionals around the world in the process of identifying individuals with disorders and provides a comprehensive list of the various disorders that have been identified. The DSM serves as the essential resource for diagnosis of mental disorders based off of the various signs and symptoms displayed by individuals while also providing a basic reference point for the treatment of the different disorders. The manual attempts to remain scientific in its approach to identifying the underlying symptoms of each disorder while meeting the needs of the different psychological perspectives and the various mental health fields. The DSM has recently gone through a major revision from the DSM-IV-TR to the DSM-5 and contains many significant changes in both the diagnosis of mental disorders and their classifications.
Mood disorder is a condition in which an individuals’ mood is bothered. Such a disorder can affect an individuals’ demeanor, interaction and communication with others. As a result, mood disorders can possibly lead to the inability to complete daily-living activities. There are several types of mood disorders such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, dysthymic disorder and cyclothymic disorder (Rosenberg and Kosslyn, 2011). In order to treat such conditions, the individuals’ neurological, psychological, and social factors are considered and targeted.
What is a Dysthymic Disorder, and how does it affect an individual? Dysthymic disorder is a chronic mood disorder that falls within the depression spectrum. This is a long-term, chronic disorder, but with less severity than Major Depressive Disorder. Just like major depression, dysthymia has roots in genetic, neurochemical imbalances, childhood and adulthood trauma, and social circumstances, especially in isolation and the unavailability to access mental health professional services. The stress that provokes at least early onset form is usually chronic. The criteria for Dysthymic Disorder states that an individual must have two or more of the following symptoms lasting for more than two years: feelings of hopelessness, insomnia or fatigue, poor concentration or having difficulty making decisions, low energy or fatigue, low self-esteem, poor appetite or overeating, and last irritability. Some of the symptoms will exclude mania, hypomanic or mixed episode commonly associated with bipolar dis...