Recently, I have been studying the symptoms of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. It has come to my attention that both diseases share similarities. As a former student of the Social Sciences, I became very interested in these mental impairments and decided to perform further research. Following are my findings.
Major Symptoms:
Bipolar disorder, formerly called “manic/depressive” disorder, is a serious mental illness characterized by extreme changes in a person’s mood, and ultimately his behavior. The term bipolar refers to the two poles or opposite reactions a person suffering with this illness exhibits. One minute a person’s mood may be very exuberant or extremely happy and the next his mood could change to extremely apathetic or depressed. In the manic state, the person may experience inflated self-esteem, unlimited energy, and restlessness, and may exhibit a risk-taking attitude (such as making unwise choices, spending too much money, and making foolish business ventures). In the depressed state, the person may experience anxiety or nervousness, sleeping problems, social withdrawal, loss of interest in daily activities, and feelings of worthlessness. A depressed person may also feel excessive guilt and have thoughts of suicide. Depression usually lasts as long as two weeks but may last longer depending on the individual.
Schizophrenia is also a serious mental illness, affecting about one percent of the world’s population. About 2.5 million people in the United States are schizophrenic. There are five major types of schizophrenia: paranoid; disorganized; catatonic; residual; and schizoaffective. A paranoid schizophrenic experiences a suspicious nature and an excessive fear of being watched or persecuted by others. A person with disorganized schizophrenia may have trouble communicating with others because he is confused. In the catatonic state, a person experiences social withdrawal. Residual schizophrenia involves loss of interest in daily activities. And finally, schizoaffective disorder involves a combination of the aforementioned symptoms plus depression or extreme apathy. Contrary to popular belief, a person diagnosed with this illness does not suffer from a split or multiple personality. Instead, changes occur within the same personality.
Causes:
The exact causes of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are not known, however, most professionals have ruled out poor parenting or childhood background as influential factors. Instead, many scientists believe heredity and genes play a large part in both illnesses. A mother or father may transmit a faulty gene to their child. If a child’s parent has a gene linked to either disorder, it is very likely that child will develop the disorder. How a person’s brain responds to certain stimuli is largely dependent on that person’s genes. The neurotransmitters, serotonin and dopamine are the chemicals involved in schizophrenia. These chemicals transmit messages between the brain’s nerve cells which ultimately affects how the person responds to his environmental influences. Chemical imbalances in a person’s brain are believed to cause the mood swings present in bipolar disorder. People with either bipolar disorder or schizophrenia respond differently to sensory and outside stimuli than those not affected with these mental ailments.
Treatment:
As with any illness, the first step toward treatment involves the person’s own admission that they have a problem. Once they have overcome the shame of being labeled as “crazy”, they should contact a mental health professional. It would be wise to do this as soon as possible so that the affected person can get on with their life. Lack of timely and adequate treatment can lead to poor health, relationship problems, employment issues, and possibly suicide.
Treatment of these psychoses include: antipsychotic medications prescribed by a psychiatrist or other mental health professional; psychotherapy, involving talking to and confiding in a mental health specialist; finding a support group such as family and friends or someone else who has experienced similar symptoms of the disease; finding gainful employment; and reducing the stress in the affected person’s life. The most important treatment of these illnesses involves the person’s faith. Worshipping God with other loving and supportive church members, having faith in Jesus’ healing power, and being involved in church activities, all goes a long way toward helping affected persons recover.
Comparisons:
The differences between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia seem to be minimal. While some symptoms (for example, inflated self-esteem, irrationality, social withdrawal, despondency, and depression) are shared by both illnesses, a subtle difference exists. An affected individual may experience hallucinations and delusions (common symptoms of schizophrenia) without the mania or depression associated with bipolar disorder. Mental health professionals and other scientists are still debating over these diseases, as their symptoms appear to overlap.
Reference:
- Mental Health Association
