Transcript Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder
Edwyn Lo
What is Bipolar Disorder?
• Bipolar disorder is a autosomal dominant disorder. This means that if a
person has two dominant cells of this disease, then they are very likely
to show it. If they have one dominant gene and one recessive, then
they are carriers. If both of their genes are recessive, then they have no
link with this disease. It is also known as manic-depressive illness.
When a person enters a state in which they’re mood sways extremely
high and low, they probably have bipolar disorder. A common
symptom of this disease is depression and unusual shifts in a person’s
energy and ability to function. The mood swings of people with this
disorder are different from the normal “roller coaster rides” we have
everyday. When normal people have their ups and downs, it is
considered mild compared to the severe mood swings the people with
this disease have. Though this disorder may sound simple and easy to
cure, it actually is one of the most severe forms of mental disease. The
disease has a high rate of recurrence and if ignored, there is a 15% risk
of death through suicide. The bipolar disorder is the 3rd leading cause
of death among people aged between 15 and 24, and is the 6th leading
cause of death in the developed world among people aged between 15
and 44.
History of Bipolar Disorder
• This disease featuring different problems with the
brain was discovered in the late 1900s by German
psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin. Though this disease was
discovered by Emil, the first occurrence of this
disorder was actually in Ancient Greek. Several
people in the science career tried to uncover the
mystery of this disorder including Roman physician
Caelius Aurelianus. The word ‘mania’ was actually
found in the process of one of the attempts to solve
this mystery. The first time this disease ever came up
can be traced back to around 2 A.D.
Treatment
• There is no special treatment
for the bipolar disorder
because this disability cannot
be cured. There are two
major ways to prevent
further episodes of this
disease, pharmacological and
psychotherapeutic
techniques.
• One of the best ways would
be to find a psychotherapist
to help you express your
feelings and lower your
stress. Psychotherapists are
also specialized to improve
depression disabilities and
problems.
B = Dominant
b = Recessive
Inheritance
Female (Has this disease)
• BB = Has this
Male
disease.
(Has no
• bb = Has no link with link with
this
this disease
disease)
whatsoever.
• Bb = Carrier of this
disease.
B
B
b
Bb
Bb
b
Bb
Bb
The punnett square above shows that
if one parent has this disease (BB)
and the other doesn’t (bb), then their
children will all be carriers.
BB : bb : Bb = 0:0:4
Female (Carrier)
Male (Is
a carrier
of this
disease)
B
b
B
BB
Bb
b
Bb
bb
This square to the left shows two
parents who are both carriers of
the bipolar disorder. Half of their
offspring will be carriers, a
quarter will show this disease,
and another quarter will have no
link with bipolar disorder.
BB : bb : Bb = 1:1:2
Female (No link to disease)
The square to the right shows both
parents having no link to the bipolar
disease. This means their offspring will
have no chance of getting this disease
Male
because this is a autosomal dominant
(No link
disease meaning only people with a
to
dominant bipolar disease gene will have
disease)
a chance of getting it.
BB : bb : Bb = 0:4:0
b
b
b
bb
bb
b
bb
bb
Bibliography
• "Bipolar Disorder." Wikipedia. 16 Oct. 2007. 16 Oct. 2007
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_Disorder
• "Autosomal." Dictionary.com. 2007. 18 Oct. 2007
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/autosomal
• "Bipolar Disorder." National Institute of Mental Health. 12 Oct. 2007.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 12 Oct. 2007
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolardisorder/complete-publication.shtml
• "Recurrence." Dictionary.com. 2007. 18 Oct. 2007
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/recurrence
• Long, Phillip W. "Bipolar Disorder." Internet Mental Health. 2005.
Internet Mental Health. 18 Oct. 2007
http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis/p20-md02.html