Bipolar Disorder 2 Essays - Psychiatric Diagnosis, Depression

Bipolar Disorder 2 Bipolar affective disorder has been a mystery since the 16th century. History has shown that this disorder can appear in almost anyone. Even the great painter Vincent Van Gogh is believed to have had bipolar disorder. It is clear that in our society many people live with bipolar disorder; however, despite the amount of people suffering from it, we are still waiting for explanations for the causes and cure. The one fact of which we are aware is that bipolar disorder severely undermines its' victims ability to obtain and maintain social and occupational success. Because bipolar disorder has such debilitating symptoms, it is important that we keep looking for explanations of its causes and for more ways to treat this disorder. Bipolar has a large variety of symptoms, divided in two categories. One is the manic episodes, the other is depressive. The depressive episodes are characterized by intense feelings of sadness and despair that can turn into feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. Some of the symptoms of a depressive episode include disturbances in sleep and appetite, loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness, guilt, difficulty thinking, indecision, and reoccurring thoughts of death and suicide. The manic episodes are characterized by elevated or irritable mood, increased energy, decreased need for sleep, poor judgment and insight, and often reckless or irresponsible behavior. These episodes may alternate with profound depressions characterized by a deep sadness, almost inability to move, hopelessness, and disturbances in appetite, sleep, problems with concentrations and driving. Bipolar affective disorder affects approximately one percent of the population (approximately three million people) in the United States. It occurs in both males and females.Bipolar disorder is diagnosed if an episode of mania occurs whether depression has been diagnosed or not. Most commonly, individuals with manic episodes do experience a period of depression. Symptoms include elated, excited, or irritable mood, hyperactivity, pressure of speech, flight of ideas, inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, distractibility, and excessive involvement in reckless activities. As the National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association (MDMDA) has found out in their research, bipolar disorder can create marital and family disruptions, occupational setbacks, and financial disasters. Many times, bipolar patients report that the depressions are longer and increase in frequency as the person ages. Many times's bipolar states and psychotic states are misdiagnosed as schizophrenia. The onset of Bipolar disorder usually occurs between the ages of 20 and 30 years of age, with a second peak in the mid-forties for women. A typical bipolar patient may experience eight to ten episodes in their lifetime. However, those who have rapid cycling may experience more episodes of mania and depression that follow each other without a period of remission. The three stages of mania begin with hypomania, in which patients report that they are energetic, extroverted and assertive. Hypomania progresses into mania and the transition is marked by extreme loss of judgment. Often, euphoric grandiose characteristics are displayed, and paranoid or irritable characteristics begin. The third stage of mania is evident when the patient experiences paranoid delusions. Speech is generally rapid and hyperactive behavior sometimes turns into violence. Sometimes both manic and depressive symptoms occur at the same time. This is called a mixed episode. Those affected are at special risk because there is a combination of hopelessness, agitation, and anxiety that make them feel like they "could jump out of their skin". Up to 50% of all patients with mania have a mixture of depressed moods. Patients report feeling dysphoric, depressed, and unhappy; yet, they have the energy associated with mania. Rapid cycling mania is another form of bipolar disorder. Mania may be present with four or more episodes within a 12 month period. This form of the disease has more episodes of mania and depression than bipolar disorder, although this is believed to be a branch of actual bipolar disorder. Lithium has been the primary treatment of bipolar disorder since its introduction in the 1960's. Its main function is to stabilize the cycling characteristic of bipolar disorder. In four controlled studies by F. K. Goodwin and K. R. Jamison, the overall response rate for bipolar subjects treated with Lithium was 78% (1990). Lithium is also the primary drug used for long- term maintenance of bipolar disorder. In a

How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay

How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay In our daily life we very often employ the method of compare and contrast as to take some decision over a controversial subject. Basically, to compare and to contrast are two different ways of treating a subject, but still they seem interdependent and correlated to each other. For, every time we compare two or more entities, we conceive them as different from each other (otherwise, they would be one and the same thing). Therefore, these two methods are usually used together, particularly while writing an essay which is focused on two or more subjects. Practical use If you were assigned to write a compare and contrast essay, your instructor probably wants to test some of your skills, such as analytical reasoning, watchfulness, ability to infer from pure sense-data, and others. This essay may concern every possible field of human activity- literature, political sciences, sport, biology, etc. Remember that it is not that difficult to write: you have to apply some skills which you (unconsciously) use in your daily life. Instructions for writing a compare and contrast essay There are several steps which you can follow while writing your compare and contrast essay. 1. Choose two things which are evidently related to each other. You cannot compare a car with a mountain, for example. It is always better to compare two things of the same kind. When you have more than two things in mind, you must discover more connections between them, which ensues in a chaotic description of subjects and relationships (you must compare thing A with thing B, then thing A with thing C, and then thing B with thing C). Another advice is to focus your essay on material objects, or at least things which are easy to be defined (if you compare Newton’s physics with Quantum theory in general, you will probably get nowhere). 2. This essay is divided into two main parts: compare (find similarities) and contrast (find differences). We advise you to choose three similarities and three differences, as it will help you to organize your paper in a better way. Think more about the entities compared: how people use them, what is their function, what are their advantages and disadvantages. 3. Set forth your thesis. As every other type of essay, this one should be based on a well-proven thesis statement. The easiest way to construct is to write down your personal opinion: which one of these things you prefer, or like, or use, and why. Then list three similarities and three differences. At the end of the essay re-state your thesis in brief, trying to convince your reader. At the same time, the thesis statement must be justified, and have aesthetical structure, so the text should flow and catch the reader’s attention. If you merely describe both things, you will not tell the reader anything new. And every essay should give some new information to the reader, or at least formulate it in another way. 4. Proofread your paper and check for logical inconsistencies. Before handing it to your teacher, ask a friend or forum users to give feedback. It does not mean to ask someone else to write it instead of you. You must simply distance yourself from your essay in order to analyze its structure and internal logic. The compare and contrast essay is one of the easiest types of essays, but any underestimation of your assignment may have negative consequences: to write in a chaotic way, or merely to describe the objects of your writing. This essay should present and defend your personal opinion through relevant facts and information.

Critically assess the arguments in support of and against the Essay

Critically assess the arguments in support of and against the acknowledgement of the legally binding nature of the right to wate - Essay Example This right to an adequate standard of living is in turn enshrined in a number of international human rights treaties. The rationale herein is that it would be impossible to uphold these international human rights treaties without making the right to water legally binding. As a mater of fact, water is one of the most basic needs for mankind. Some of these treaties include the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The strength of this argument is well underscored by these treaties being binding, since they enjoy near global ratification1. In a closely related wavelength, Nordblom, Reeson and Finlayson2 observe that the rationale behind the argument in favour of the legalisation of the right to water is that this move is a landmark decision that would irrevocably bring ameliorations on the lives of billions of people who are still unable to access water and proper sanitation, with children and women being at the centre of this rationale. Particularly, it is pointed out that about 1.5 million children under the age of 5 years die of diarrhoea, annually, due to the inability to access clean water. This argument is very valid, given that it acknowledges the fact that this inability to access clean water exacerbates gender disparity. The issue of gender comes into play herein, since lack of access to clean water affects women, girls and children than men. Another rationale behind this move is that it had been ratified by major players in international relations. Particularly, according to Gunduz3, the Human Rights Council as the main body of the United Nations on human rights had furthered this move, as a resolution that had been tabled and supported by Spain, Germany, France, Britain and other member states of the UN. This move was pursuant to the July 2010 resolution of the UN General Assembly which had recognised access to water and proper sanitation as a fundamental huma n right. This move had to have legally binding obligations, in order for this observation to remain binding. Conversely, such a move in the UN General Assembly of 2010 was propounded by the rationale that despite water being an essential commodity or element in human life, yet a very significant fraction of the world’s fraction could not access it. Particularly, the UN quoted research results obtained by its Independent Experts to divulge that while 1 billion people are not able to access improved or standardised sources of water, 3 billion have no taps in their homes. The import of this is that there are billions of people consuming unsafe water. It is also important to note that the report that was tabled by the Independent Experts also helped reinforce the ideas on the legalisation of the right to water because it also aimed at ensuring quality in accessibility to water and sanitation, and not just quantity. Other scholars such as Pink4 and Kibassa5 argue that the move to make the right to water legally binding was also imperative if a larger input by other stakeholder was to be realised. Particularly, the recognition of water as a human right and a legally binding reality by the Human Rights Council set the standard for all water services providers to follow, whether these providers are in private or public ventures. The import