Functional Outcome in Bipolar Disorder - Research Paper Example

? A critique of the article “Functional Outcome in Bipolar Disorder: The Big Picture” al affiliation A critique of the article “Functional Outcome in Bipolar Disorder: The Big Picture” Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by shifts in moods, fluctuations in energy levels, and inability to complete basic daily tasks. People with bipolar disorder are unable to form meaningful relationships with others, especially as a result of changes in moods, ranging from depression to mania. However, as Levy & Manove (2012) state, the functional outcomes of people with bipolar disorder are divergent. On one hand, there are those people who, although they have bipolar disorder, accomplish so much in their lifetime and become historical landmarks. Conversely, bipolar disorder can interfere with the psychosocial functioning of certain people, thus making it difficult for them to carry out normal daily functions. In their work, Functional Outcome in Bipolar Disorder: The Big Picture Levy & Manove (2012) seek to gain more insight into the functionality levels of people with bipolar disorder. This essay aims at critiquing the work by Levy & Manove and analyzing the validity of their arguments. In their work, Manove & Levy (2012) aim at explaining the causes of negative functional outcomes among people with bipolar disorder, in addition to proposing mechanisms for reducing this deficiency in functionality. To this end, the authors succeed in explicating how people with bipolar disorder are unable to function properly. The authors do this by looking at a number of issues affecting bipolar people. The causes and triggers of bipolar disorder are often a debated topic among experts in this area. Some suggest that the condition is inherent, while others suggest that the condition is acquired from life experiences. In their contribution towards this topic, Levy & Manove (2012) argue that exposure to highly stressful environments often triggers genetic bipolar disorder. This is to say that most people are genetically predisposed to bipolar disorder, and only require stressful environments to trigger the onset of mania. Functional differences, according to Levy and Manove, are exhibit in all human development and are, therefore, not exclusive to people with bipolar disorder. Nonetheless, the authors argue that people with bipolar disorder experience more emotional instabilities than normal people, in addition to poor premorbid functionality. The authors successfully inform the reader about the various difficulties faced by people with bipolar disorder. For example, as Levy & Manove (2012) write, studies have shown that bipolar disorder affects the functioning of the brain, through a process in which the high stress levels reduce the volume of the prefrontal lobe, and an increase in the lateral ventricles. Essentially, severe illness leads to cognitive dysfunction, which then worsens the functioning of people with bipolar disorder. According to Levy & Manove (2012), studies show a positive correlation between cognitive deficiencies and the severity of illness among people with bipolar disorder. The authors suggest that changes in moods may affect verbal memory for bipolar people. If the mood changes are too frequent, then it may lead to psychological stress for the person with bipolar disorder, thus contributing towards the formation of neurotoxins which lead to the degeneration of the neurological and cognitive functions in the body. It is often reported that people with bipolar disorder often exhibit abnormally high levels of anxiety, as compared to normally functioning people. In this respect, Levy & Manove (2012) write that the more severe the illness, the higher the anxiety levels among bipolar people. Extremely high anxiety often leads to early onset of mania, addiction to substance abuse, and higher chances of suicide among bipolar peoples. The authors, therefore, argue that anxiety often leads to cognitive impairments among people with bipolar disorder. The argument advances here is that even in the conventional population, extreme anxiety leads to difficulties in attention control and poor decision making. It, therefore, follows that people with bipolar disorder, who already have difficulties in normal functioning, are more cognitively affected by anxiety. This relationship between high anxiety and cognitive impairment is evidenced when a person with bipolar disorder fails to complete a basic daily activity. The person then becomes anxious and starts wondering why they are unable to use their cognition to carry out these tasks. Levy & Manove (2012) illustrate their point by pointing out that even in the “normal” population, once someone realizes that their cognitive capability is being tested, their anxiety levels go high. While trying to explicate the extent to which bipolar disorder affects the functionality of a person, Levy & Manove (2012) write about the impairment in cognitive skills among this group of people. In analyzing the effects of cognitive deficiency, Levy & Manove (2012) state that cognitive impairment is one of the indicators that a person may be suffering from bipolar disorder. Combined with inappropriate affective remissions during psychosocial functioning, cognitive deficiency is very harmful. Levy & Manove (2012) argue that deficiency in cognition skills has a negative effect on the psychosocial functioning of people with bipolar disorder, particularly in terms of changes in mood. However, the effects of cognitive impairment for people with bipolar disorder are not as severe as those of people with dementia. For the case of bipolar disorder, the effects of cognitive impairment are more subtle and functionality is not impaired to a great extent. It is however; true that cognitive impairment for people with bipolar disorder tends to get worse as the illness progresses. In such cases, people with bipolar disorder may have poor academic performances, vocational outcomes, and inability to perform basic daily activities. So far, Levy & Manove (2012) have been successful in their bid to explain the factors influencing functionality among bipolar people. Nonetheless, there are a few issues within the article that the authors should have considered to greater detail. At the beginning of the article, Levy & Manove (2012) draw a contrast between two groups of people with bipolar disorder. There is the first group which does not suffer severe dysfunctions and people belonging to this group are at least able to accomplish their life goals. However, whether intentionally or not, the authors choose to concentrate on the second group, in which people demonstrate difficulties in normal functioning. This leaves the reader wondering whether the people in the former group live normal lives just like the mainstream person, or do such people share some of the symptoms associated with the later group. Medication, therapy, and hospitalization are the most commonly used methods of managing bipolar disorder. As far as offering solutions for the management of bipolar disorder, although Levy & Manove (2012) point out that medication, therapy, and hospitalization is not enough, and suggest more action from the society, the role of the society is not clear. By suggesting that the society creates psychosocial conditions that are conducive for people with bipolar disorder, the authors fail to give clear guidelines on how exactly to carry out that process. It, therefore, means that although the conventional society may feel the importance of creating such environments, the lack of guidelines on how to do it may hinder the process. The article by Levy & Manove (2012) also uses a lot of medical jargon that is not properly explained, thus limiting the level understanding for readers who are not conversant with medical terms. The authors should at the very least try to explain the meanings of some of the terms used in the article, so as not to lock out other people. For example, not many people know the definition of such terms as euthymia, SRD, dementia, and morbidity, among others. Generally, the work by Levy & Manove (2012) is an informative piece that helps the reader to better understand the poor functionality of people with bipolar disorder. Although the authors concentrate more on the symptoms and causes of bipolar disorder and pay little attention to how to manage the disorder, the information contained in the article is very insightful. Reference Levy, B and Manove, E. (2012). Functional Outcome in Bipolar Disorder: The Big Picture. Depression Research and Treatment, 1-12. Read More