Medication Treatment of Bipolar Disorder - Research Proposal Example

Before embarking on treating and preventing bipolar disorder, it is important to analyse its causes and symptoms critically. There is no single proven cause of bipolar disorder apart from the suggestions of various researches that argue it may result from abnormalities in the functioning of some nerve cells in the brain. No matter the exact nature of the biochemical imperil underneath bipolar illness, it quite frankly makes people with the disorder more susceptible to emotional and physical stress.

According to Kahl et al. (2000), the theory of a biologically acquired vulnerability with the surrounding trigger is similar to theories proposed for many other medical conditions. For instance, in the course of stress, physical exertion or emotional tension, the individual is most likely to abruptly develop chest pain or experience a heart attack if the oxygen supply is too low. The treatment in this particular case involves taking medications that will lower cholesterol levels or blood pressure, and the patient is advised to make significant changes in their lifestyles.

In the same way, treatment of the bipolar disorder is based on the same principle whereby, mood stabilizers are often applied and making the necessary changes in lifestyles to decrease the risk of relapse. There are various kinds of bipolar and related disorders, and each one of them tends to exhibit varying signs and symptoms. For every kind, the precise symptoms of bipolar disorder can differ for every person. The list of benchmarks for diagnosing bipolar and correlated disorders was made available in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which the American Psychiatric Association printed.

This manual is of particular importance for mental health practitioners to assess mental conditions and, for insurance companies, as it aids in compensating for medication.