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NURS 6501 Bipolar Disorder

NURS 6501 Bipolar Disorder

Walden University NURS 6501 Bipolar Disorder-Step-By-Step Guide

 

This guide will demonstrate how to complete the Walden University  NURS 6501 Bipolar Disorder assignment based on general principles of academic writing. Here, we will show you the A, B, Cs of completing an academic paper, irrespective of the instructions. After guiding you through what to do, the guide will leave one or two sample essays at the end to highlight the various sections discussed below.

 

How to Research and Prepare for NURS 6501 Bipolar Disorder

 

Whether one passes or fails an academic assignment such as the Walden University  NURS 6501 Bipolar Disorder depends on the preparation done beforehand. The first thing to do once you receive an assignment is to quickly skim through the requirements. Once that is done, start going through the instructions one by one to clearly understand what the instructor wants. The most important thing here is to understand the required format—whether it is APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.

 

After understanding the requirements of the paper, the next phase is to gather relevant materials. The first place to start the research process is the weekly resources. Go through the resources provided in the instructions to determine which ones fit the assignment. After reviewing the provided resources, use the university library to search for additional resources. After gathering sufficient and necessary resources, you are now ready to start drafting your paper.

 

How to Write the Introduction for  NURS 6501 Bipolar Disorder 

 

The introduction for the Walden University  NURS 6501 Bipolar Disorder is where you tell the instructor what your paper will encompass. In three to four statements, highlight the important points that will form the basis of your paper. Here, you can include statistics to show the importance of the topic you will be discussing. At the end of the introduction, write a clear purpose statement outlining what exactly will be contained in the paper. This statement will start with “The purpose of this paper…” and then proceed to outline the various sections of the instructions.

 

How to Write the Body for  NURS 6501 Bipolar Disorder 

 

After the introduction, move into the main part of the  NURS 6501 Bipolar Disorder assignment, which is the body. Given that the paper you will be writing is not experimental, the way you organize the headings and subheadings of your paper is critically important. In some cases, you might have to use more subheadings to properly organize the assignment. The organization will depend on the rubric provided. Carefully examine the rubric, as it will contain all the detailed requirements of the assignment. Sometimes, the rubric will have information that the normal instructions lack.

 

Another important factor to consider at this point is how to do citations. In-text citations are fundamental as they support the arguments and points you make in the paper. At this point, the resources gathered at the beginning will come in handy. Integrating the ideas of the authors with your own will ensure that you produce a comprehensive paper. Also, follow the given citation format. In most cases, APA 7 is the preferred format for nursing assignments.

 

How to Write the Conclusion for  NURS 6501 Bipolar Disorder 

 

After completing the main sections, write the conclusion of your paper. The conclusion is a summary of the main points you made in your paper. However, you need to rewrite the points and not simply copy and paste them. By restating the points from each subheading, you will provide a nuanced overview of the assignment to the reader.

 

How to Format the References List for  NURS 6501 Bipolar Disorder

 

The very last part of your paper involves listing the sources used in your paper. These sources should be listed in alphabetical order and double-spaced. Additionally, use a hanging indent for each source that appears in this list. Lastly, only the sources cited within the body of the paper should appear here.

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Our team of experienced writers is well-versed in academic writing and familiar with the specific requirements of the  NURS 6501 Bipolar Disorder assignment. We can provide you with personalized support, ensuring your assignment is well-researched, properly formatted, and thoroughly edited. Get a feel of the quality we guarantee – ORDER NOW. 

 

Bipolar II Disorder

Bipolar disorder is one of the manic-depressive illnesses. This disorder falls under the category of mental illnesses altering mood, energy, activity level, and the ability to perform daily operations. The symptoms of bipolar patients vary from one individual to the next. For example, a patient suffering from manic episode type of bipolar will have a high energy level while the person suffering from depressive bipolar will have little energy (Depp et al., 2017). Each of these manifestations has its effect on the patient. The purpose of this paper will be to review, summarize, and critique a scholarly article on how bipolar II disorder increases the chances of suicidal ideation among patients.

Article Summary

The study conducted by Depp et al. (2017) reveal that bipolar disorder is linked to increased chances of suicide among all psychiatric illnesses. The possibility that a bipolar patient would commit suicide or participate in activities that are likely to endanger life is 20-30 times compared to the average population. Besides, 5-10% of the people suffering from bipolar die from suicide, with a high percentage (50-60%) of these patients attempting suicide in their life (Depp et al., 2017). Patients who have bipolar disorder require extensive care because of the increased energy levels that might prompt them to engage in self-harm.

The increase in the number of bipolar patients dying from suicide signifies that care given to these patients does not compare with the value of their lives. Therefore, facts and figures from Depp et al. (2017) contend the truth about the connection of bipolar disorder to suicidal actions. The evidence used in this article impacts the nursing fraternity as it defines the level of care required for bipolar patients. The input of nurses plays an imperative role in reducing suicidal thoughts on bipolar patients because nurses can create a sense of belonging to their patients. The number of bipolar patients dying from suicide can reduce with the input of the nursing roles.

Article Critique

The strength of the article is on the use of factual data in connecting the increase of suicidal ideation on bipolar patients. The author proves that there is no ultimate treatment or drug that has been invented for this kind of disorder. However, some drugs and practices aim to reduce the effect of the disorder and make the patient assume a normal lifestyle. These therapies give the client mood stabilizers like lithium and divalproex sodium to stabilize mood (Pallaskorpi et al., 2017). The invention made on the drugs to reduce the effect of the disorder does not have a direct effect on the treatment. However, these drugs have a possible impact on the moods that would allow bipolar patients to limit suicide or killing other people out of anger. The environment that a bipolar inhabits would also affect their suicidal decisions. In situations where these patients are lonely and lack a sense of family belonging, they would pose a high likelihood of taking their lives.

The authors have been effective in outlining the remedy to suicidal thoughts in bipolar patients. Reducing subsequent suicidal thoughts and suicidal behaviors can enhance protective factors such as personal and social support resources. According to the unveiling information about suicidal thoughts of bipolar patients, they tend to have lower self-esteem that affects their decision when faced with hurtful situations (Pallaskorpi et al., 2017). The interventions often rely on the theoretical models that rest on improving the personal resources of such individuals. An enhanced personal resource triggers a sense of personal control, a developed decision-making process, and increased use of social support services. A raised self-esteem in bipolar patients will always compel them to have a positive perception of life. Transforming the loneliness among these people into desired freedom would be increasing their chances of developing trust within their social composition (Depp et al., 2017).

The strength of this article is also evident in the health care promotional strategies used in combating symptoms of mental disorders, including suicidality, which would be necessary for solving the genetic effects of suicide. The health promotion strategies would be effective in understanding the mental capability of the brain while offering effective clinical treatment that can suppress suicidal thinking among such people (O’Reilly et al., 2020). The cognitive management of these people plays a significant role in understanding the bipolar condition of each patient and offering them the most effective remedies that would affect their life in the end. A media campaign can be crucial in raising awareness of the issues facing bipolar patients. For instance, approaching bipolar youths via social media platforms would transform their thinking about the need to have control of emotions and moods when faced with heartening situations. The campaign aims to save soles of bipolar patients and limit them from terminating their lives and other people’s lives in the community.

The weakness of the article comes from the connection of bipolar thinking with the family history of patients. Genetics is another factor that explains an increase in suicidal thoughts among bipolar patients. Instances of suicidal thoughts that have been faced in the family history of bipolar patients would elevate the chances of committing suicide. This condition implies that a bipolar patient which a family history of a relative who died of suicide needs to communicate a message to the health care professionals (O’Reilly et al., 2020). A society suffering from hereditary suicidal risks requires more prevention strategies to reduce the number of bipolar patients who die by committing suicide. I would recommend this article to a colleague because of its effectiveness in understanding the connection of suicidal thoughts with bipolar disorder. The authors relay the information and effectively that heightens the understanding of a reader.

Conclusion

The connection discussed between bipolar and suicide ideation proves that healthcare professionals do not have a definite cure for the disorder. However, they have better interventions aimed at lowering the danger of the disorder on patients. The increase in cases of bipolar patients dying from suicide shows the reduction in prevention strategies for such conditions as defined in the article.

 

 

References

Depp, C. A., Thompson, W. K., Frank, E., & Swartz, H. A. (2017). Prediction of near-term increases in suicidal ideation in recently depressed patients with bipolar II disorder using intensive longitudinal data. Journal of affective disorders, 208, 363–368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.09.054

O’Reilly, L. M., Kuja-Halkola, R., Rickert, M. E., Class, Q. A., Larsson, H., Lichtenstein, P., & D’Onofrio, B. M. (2020). The intergenerational transmission of suicidal behavior: an offspring of siblings study. Translational psychiatry10(1), 1-11.  doi:10.1017/S0033291721001720

Pallaskorpi, S., Suominen, K., Ketokivi, M., Valtonen, H., Arvilommi, P., Mantere, O., … & Isometsä, E. (2017). Incidence and predictors of suicide attempts in bipolar I and II disorders: a 5‐year follow‐up study. Bipolar disorders19(1), 13-22. https://doi.org/10.1111/bdi.12464

Also Read:

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NURS 6501 Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP) Pathophysiology

Scenario 2: Bipolar Disorder

A 44-year-old female came to the clinic today brought in by her husband. He notes that she has been with various states of depression and irritability over the past 3 months with extreme fatigue, has lost 20 pounds and has insomnia. He has come home from work to find his wife sitting in front of the TV and not moving for hours. In the past few days, she suddenly has become very hyperactive, has been talking incessantly, has been easily distracted and seems to “flit from one thing to another.”. She hasn’t slept in 3 days. The wife went on an excessive shopping spree for new clothes that resulted in their credit card being denied for exceeding the line of credit. The wife is unable to sit in the exam room and is currently pacing the hallway muttering to herself and is reluctant to talk with or be examined the ARNP. Physical observation shows agitated movements, rapid fire speech, and hyperactivity.
DIAGNOSIS: bipolar type 2 disorder.

Question

1. How does genetics play in the development of bipolar 2 disorders?

Selected Answer: The pathophysiology of bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive illness (MDI), has not been fully identified, and there are no objective biologic markers that correspond definitively with the disease state. Twin, family, and adoption studies indicate that bipolar disorder has a significant genetic component. First-degree relatives of a person with bipolar disorder are approximately seven times more likely to develop bipolar disorder than the rest. The heritability of bipolar I disorder (BPI) has recently been estimated at 0.73. Bipolar individuals, who may exhibit psychotic behavior, have deficits in reelin expression linked to genetic loci located on chromosome 22, which confers susceptibility to schizophrenia. Given that, large variations in clinical symptoms still suggest that developmental and environmental factors are as important as genetic factors in contributing to the etiology of mood disorders.

Correct Answer:

The pathophysiology of bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness (MDI), is not fully understood, and there are no objective biologic markers that definitively correspond with the disease state. Twin, family, and adoption studies have all found a significant genetic component to bipolar disorder. First degree relatives of people with bipolar disorder are approximately 7 times more likely than the general population to develop bipolar disorder, and the heritability of bipolar I disorder (BPI) has recently been estimated at 0.73. Bipolar people, who may exhibit psychotic behavior, have reelin expression deficits linked to genetic loci on chromosome 22, which confers susceptibility to schizophrenia. Given this, the fact that clinical symptoms vary widely suggests that developmental and environmental factors are involved.
Response Feedback: [None Given]
https://nursingassignmentgurus.com/nurs-6501-knowledge-check-concepts-of-psychological-disorders/

In this exercise, you will complete a 10- to 20-essay type question Knowledge Check to gauge your understanding of this module’s content.

Possible topics covered in this Knowledge Check include:

    • Generalized anxiety disorder
    • Depression
    • Bipolar disorders
    • Schizophrenia
    • Delirium and dementia
    • Obsessive compulsive disease

Photo Credit: agsandrew – stock.adobe.com

Complete the Knowledge Check By Day 7 of Week 9

To complete this Knowledge Check:

Module 6 Knowledge Check

What’s Coming Up in Module 7?

Photo Credit: [BrianAJackson]/[iStock / Getty Images Plus]/Getty Images

In Module 7, you will analyze processes related to women’s and men’s health, infections, and hematologic disorders through case study analysis. To do this, you will analyze alterations in the relevant systems and the resultant disease processes. You will also consider patient characteristics, including racial and ethnic variables, which may impact physiological functioning and altered physiology.

Week 10 Knowledge Check: Women’s and Men’s Health, Infections, and Hematologic Disorders

In the Week 10 Knowledge Check, you will demonstrate your understanding of the topics covered during Module 7. This Knowledge

Check will be composed of a series of questions related to specific scenarios provided. It is highly recommended that you review theNURS 6501 Bipolar Disorder Learning Resources in their entirety prior to taking the Knowledge Check, since the resources cover the topics addressed. Plan your time accordingly.

Next Module

To go to the next module:

Module 7

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Week 9: Concepts of Psychological Disorders

Among the many risk factors for mental disorders are genetics and other pathophysiological factors. While other factors, such as environmental factors or substance abuse, can also have an impact, it is important to recognize the connections between biological factors and psychological disorders.

Ranging from anxiety to schizophrenia, psychological disorders offer unique challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Clearly, the presence of these disorders can be life-altering for patients, but they can also significantly impact families and other loved ones.

This week, you examine fundamental concepts of psychological disorders. You explore common psychological disorders, and you apply the key terms and concepts that help communicate the pathophysiological nature of these issues to patients.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

  •  Analyze concepts and principles of pathophysiology across the lifespan

Learning Resources

Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)

McCance, K. L. & Huether, S. E. (2019). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby/Elsevier.

  • Chapter 19: Neurobiology of Schizophrenia, Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, including Summary Review

Locke, A. B., Kirst, N., & Shultz, C. G. (2015). Diagnosis and management of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults. American Family Physician, 91(9), 617–624. Retrieved from https://www.aafp.org/afp/2015/0501/p617.html

Credit Line: Diagnosis and management of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults by Locke, A. B., Kirst, N., & Shultz, C., in American Family Physician, Vol. 91/Issue 9. Copyright 2015 by American Academy of Family Physicians. Reprinted by permission of American Academy of Family Physicians via the Copyright Clearance Center.

McIntyre, R. S. & Calabrese, J. R. (2019). Bipolar depression: The clinical characteristics and unmet needs of a complex disorder. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 1–14. doi:10.1080/03007995.2019.1636017. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03007995.2019.1636017

Credit Line: Bipolar depression: The clinical characteristics and unmet needs of a complex disorder by McIntyre, R. S. & Calabrese, J. R., in Current Medical Research and Opinion. Copyright 2019 by Librapharm Ltd. Reprinted by permission of Librapharm Ltd via the Copyright Clearance Center.

Required Media (click to expand/reduce)

Module 6 Overview with Dr. Tara Harris 

Dr. Tara Harris reviews the structure of Module 6 as well as the expectations for the module. Consider how you will manage your time as you review your media and Learning Resources throughout the module to prepare for your Knowledge Check. (1m)

Concepts of Psychological Disorders – Week 9 (12m)

Generalized Anxiety Syndrome

Osmosis.org. (2016, February 29). Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) – causes, symptoms, & treatment [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mPwQTiMSj8

Note: The approximate length of the media program is 5 minutes.

  • Question 1

    4 out of 4 points

    Correct

    Scenario 1: Schizophrenia

    A 22-year-old female student was brought to her college student health department by her boyfriend. He was concerned about the changes in her behavior. The boyfriend noted that she has been hearing voices, and seeing things that are not there. She also thinks that there are people that want to harm her. She told her family that she cannot finish college as the voices told her to quit because she is “dumb”.  The boyfriend relates episodes of unexpected rage and crying.

    PMH:  noncontributory

    FH: positive for a first cousin who “had mental problems”.

    SH: Denies current drug abuse but states he smoked marijuana every day during junior and senior years of high school. Admits to drinking heavily on weekends at various fraternity houses.

    PE: thin, anxious disheveled female who, during conversations, stops talking, tilts her head and appears to be listening to something. There is poor eye contact and conversation is disjointed.

    DIAGOSIS: schizophrenia.

    Questions

    1.     What are known characteristics of schizophrenia and relate those to this patient.  

    Selected Answer:

    Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia may result in hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior that impair daily functioning and can be disabling. Schizophrenia involves a range of problems with thinking (cognition), behavior, and emotions. Signs and symptoms of schizophrenia may vary but usually involve delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech and reflect an impaired ability to function.

    1-  Delusions: These are false beliefs not based on reality. For example, you think that you are being harmed or harassed; certain gestures or comments are directed at you; you have exceptional ability or fame; another person is in love with you, or a major catastrophe is about to occur. Delusions occur in most people with schizophrenia.

    2- Hallucinations: These usually involve seeing or hearing things that do not exist. Nevertheless, the person with schizophrenia has the full force and impact of a normal experience. Hallucinations can be in any sense, but hearing voices is the most common hallucination.

    3- Disorganized thinking (speech): Disorganized thinking is inferred from disorganized speech. Effective communication can be impaired, and answers to questions may be partially or completely unrelated. Rarely, speech may include putting together meaningless words that cannot be understood, sometimes known as word salad.

    4- Extremely disorganized or abnormal motor behavior: This may show in several ways, from childlike silliness to unpredictable agitation. Behavior is not focused on a goal, so it is hard to do tasks. Behavior can include resistance to instructions, inappropriate or bizarre posture, a complete lack of response, or useless and excessive movement.

    5- Negative symptoms: This refers to reduced or lack of ability to function normally. For example, the person may neglect personal hygiene or appear to lack emotion (does not make eye contact, does not change facial expressions, or speaks in a monotone). Also, the person may lose interest in everyday activities, socially withdraw or lack the ability to experience a pleasure.

    Certain factors seem to increase the risk of developing or triggering schizophrenia, including having a family history of schizophrenia; some pregnancy and birth complications, such as malnutrition or exposure to toxins or viruses that may impact brain development; taking mind-altering (psychoactive or psychotropic) drugs during teen years and young adulthood.

    In summary, Positive symptoms of schizophrenia include hallucinations that may be auditory, olfactory, somatic-tactile, visual, voices commenting, and voices conversing. Delusions are also positive symptoms and include delusion of being controlled, mind-reading, the delusion of reference, grandiosity, guilt, persecution, somatic thought broadcasting, thought insertion, and thought withdrawal. Thought disorder symptoms include distractible speech, incoherence, illogicality, circumstantiality, and derailment. Bizarre behaviors are other positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Those behaviors include aggressiveness and agitated states, clothing appearance, repetitive stereotyping, and social and sexual behavior. This patient exhibited signs of auditory hallucinations, disheveled appearance, and persecution.

    Correct Answer:

    Correct 

    Positive symptoms of schizophrenia include hallucinations that may be auditory, olfactory, somatic-tactile, visual, voices commenting, and voices conversing. Delusions are also positive symptoms and include delusion of being controlled, delusion of mind reading, delusion of reference, delusion of grandiosity, guilt, persecution, somatic thought broadcasting, thought insertion and thought withdrawal. Thought disorder symptoms include distractible speech, incoherence, illogicality, circumstantially, and derailment. Bizarre behaviors are other positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Those behaviors include aggressiveness and agitated states, clothing appearance, repetitive stereotyped, and social and sexual behavior. This patient exhibited signs of auditory hallucinations, disheveled appearance, and persecution.

    Response Feedback: [None Given]
  • Question 2

    4 out of 4 points

    Correct

    Scenario 1: Schizophrenia

    A 22-year-old female student was brought to her college student health department by her boyfriend. He was concerned about the changes in her behavior. The boyfriend noted that she has been hearing voices, and seeing things that are not there. She also thinks that there are people that want to harm her. She told her family that she cannot finish college as the voices told her to quit because she is “dumb”.  The boyfriend relates episodes of unexpected rage and crying.

    PMH:  noncontributory

    FH: positive for a first cousin who “had mental problems”.

    SH: Denies current drug abuse but states he smoked marijuana every day during junior and senior years of high school. Admits to drinking heavily on weekends at various fraternity houses.

    PE: thin, anxious disheveled female who, during conversations, stops talking, tilts her head and appears to be listening to something. There is poor eye contact and conversation is disjointed.

    DIAGOSIS: schizophrenia.

    Question:

    1.     Genetics are sometimes attached to schizophrenia explain this.

    Selected Answer:

    The causes of schizophrenia are not known. There are probably at least two sets of risk factors, genetic and perinatal. In addition, undefined socioenvironmental factors may increase the risk of schizophrenia in international migrants or urban populations of ethnic minorities. Increased paternal age is associated with a greater risk of schizophrenia. The risk of schizophrenia is elevated in biological relatives of persons with schizophrenia but not in adopted relatives. The risk of schizophrenia in first-degree relatives of persons with schizophrenia is 10%. If both parents have schizophrenia, the risk of schizophrenia in their child is 40%. Concordance for schizophrenia is about 10% for dizygotic twins and 40-50% for monozygotic twins. Genome-wide association studies have identified many candidate genes. However, the individual gene variants that have been implicated so far account for only a small fraction of schizophrenia cases, and these findings have not always been replicated in different studies. The genes that have been found mostly change a gene’s expression or a protein’s function in a small way.

    Correct Answer:

    Correct 

    The causes of schizophrenia are not known. There are probably at least 2 sets of risk factors, genetic and perinatal. In addition, undefined socioenvironmental factors may increase the risk of schizophrenia in international migrants or urban populations of ethnic minorities. Increased paternal age is associated with a greater risk of schizophrenia. The risk of schizophrenia is elevated in biologic relatives of persons with schizophrenia but not in adopted relatives. The risk of schizophrenia in first-degree relatives of persons with schizophrenia is 10%. If both parents have schizophrenia, the risk of schizophrenia in their child is 40%. Concordance for schizophrenia is about 10% for dizygotic twins and 40-50% for monozygotic twins. Genome-wide association studies have identified many candidate genes, but the individual gene variants that have been implicated so far account for only a small fraction of schizophrenia cases, and these findings have not always been replicated in different studies. The genes that have been found mostly change a gene’s expression or a protein’s function in a small way.

    Response Feedback: [None Given]
  • Question 3

    4 out of 4 points

    Correct

    Scenario 1: Schizophrenia

    A 22-year-old female student was brought to her college student health department by her boyfriend. He was concerned about the changes in her behavior. The boyfriend noted that she has been hearing voices, and seeing things that are not there. She also thinks that there are people that want to harm her. She told her family that she cannot finish college as the voices told her to quit because she is “dumb”.  The boyfriend relates episodes of unexpected rage and crying.

    PMH:  noncontributory

    FH: positive for a first cousin who “had mental problems”.

    SH: Denies current drug abuse but states he smoked marijuana every day during junior and senior years of high school. Admits to drinking heavily on weekends at various fraternity houses.

    PE: thin, anxious disheveled female who, during conversations, stops talking, tilts her head and appears to be listening to something. There is poor eye contact and conversation is disjointed.

    DIAGOSIS: schizophrenia.

    Question:

    What roles do neurotransmitters play in the development of schizophrenia?

    Selected Answer:

    Abnormalities of the dopaminergic system are thought to exist in schizophrenia. The first observable effective antipsychotic drugs, chlorpromazine, and reserpine, were structurally different, but they shared antidopaminergic properties. Drugs that diminish the firing rates of mesolimbic dopamine. D2 neurons are antipsychotic, and drugs that stimulate these neurons (e.g., amphetamines) exacerbate psychotic symptoms. Hypodopaminergic activity in the mesocortical system, leading to negative symptoms, and hyperdopaminergic activity in the mesolimbic system, leading to positive symptoms, may coexist. The newer antipsychotic drugs block dopamine D2 and serotonin (5- hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) receptors. Clozapine, probably the most effective antipsychotic agent, is a particularly weak dopamine D2 antagonist. Thus, other neurotransmitter systems, such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), are undoubtedly involved.

    Correct Answer:

    Correct 

    Abnormalities of the dopaminergic system are thought to exist in schizophrenia. The first observable effective antipsychotic drugs, chlorpromazine and reserpine, were structurally different from each other, but they shared antidopaminergic properties. Drugs that diminish the firing rates of mesolimbic dopamine D2 neurons are antipsychotic, and drugs that stimulate these neurons (eg, amphetamines) exacerbate psychotic symptoms. Hypodopaminergic activity in the mesocortical system, leading to negative symptoms, and hyperdopaminergic activity in the mesolimbic system, leading to positive symptoms, may coexist. The newer antipsychotic drugs block both dopamine D2 and serotonin (5- hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) receptors. Clozapine, probably the most effective antipsychotic agent, is a particularly weak dopamine D2 antagonist. Thus, other neurotransmitter systems, such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), are undoubtedly involved.

    Response Feedback: [None Given]
  • Question 4

    4 out of 4 points

    Correct

    Scenario 1: Schizophrenia

    A 22-year-old female student was brought to her college student health department by her boyfriend. He was concerned about the changes in her behavior. The boyfriend noted that she has been hearing voices, and seeing things that are not there. She also thinks that there are people that want to harm her. She told her family that she cannot finish college as the voices told her to quit because she is “dumb”.  The boyfriend relates episodes of unexpected rage and crying.

    PMH:  noncontributory

    FH: positive for a first cousin who “had mental problems”.

    SH: Denies current drug abuse but states he smoked marijuana every day during junior and senior years of high school. Admits to drinking heavily on weekends at various fraternity houses.

    PE: thin, anxious disheveled female who, during conversations, stops talking, tilts her head and appears to be listening to something. There is poor eye contact and conversation is disjointed.

    DIAGOSIS: schizophrenia.

    Questions:

    Explain what structural abnormalities are seen in people with schizophrenia.

    Selected Answer:

    Advances in neuroimaging studies show differences between the brains of those with schizophrenia and those without this disorder. In people with schizophrenia, the ventricles are somewhat larger, and there is decreased brain volume in medial temporal areas and changes in the hippocampus. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies show anatomic abnormalities in a network of neocortical and limbic regions and interconnecting white-matter tracts. Some studies using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to examine white matter found that two networks of white-matter tracts are reduced in schizophrenia. Brain imaging showed reductions in whole-brain volume and left and right prefrontal and temporal lobe volumes in many people at high genetic risk for schizophrenia. The changes in the prefrontal lobes are associated with the increasing severity of psychotic symptoms. MRI studies of schizophrenic patients show that structural brain abnormalities may progress over time. The abnormalities identified included whole-brain volume loss in both gray and white matter and increases in lateral ventricular volume.

    Correct Answer:

    Correct 

    Advances in neuroimaging studies show differences between the brains of those with schizophrenia and those without this disorder. In people with schizophrenia, the ventricles are somewhat larger, there is decreased brain volume in medial temporal areas, and changes are seen in the hippocampus. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies show anatomic abnormalities in a network of neocortical and limbic regions and interconnecting white-matter tracts. Some studies using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to examine white matter found that 2 networks of white-matter tracts are reduced in schizophrenia. Brain imaging showed reductions in whole-brain volume and in left and right prefrontal and temporal lobe volumes in many people who are at high genetic risk for schizophrenia. The changes in prefrontal lobes are associated with increasing severity of psychotic symptoms. MRI studies of schizophrenic patients show that structural brain abnormalities may progress over time. The abnormalities identified included loss of whole-brain volume in both gray and white matter and increases in lateral ventricular volume.

    Response Feedback: [None Given]
  • Question 5

    4 out of 4 points

    Correct

    Scenario 2: Bipolar Disorder

    A 44-year-old female  came to the clinic today brought in by her husband. He notes that she has been with various states of depression and irritability over the past 3 months with extreme fatigue, has lost 20 pounds and has insomnia. He has come home from work to find his wife sitting in front of the TV and not moving for hours. In the past few days, she suddenly has become very hyperactive, has been talking incessantly, has been easily distracted and seems to “flit from one thing to another.”. She hasn’t slept in 3 days. The wife went on an excessive shopping spree for new clothes that resulted in their credit card being denied for exceeding the line of credit. The wife is unable to sit in the exam room and is currently pacing the hallway muttering to herself and is reluctant to talk with or be examined the ARNP. Physical observation shows agitated movements, rapid fire speech, and hyperactivity.

    DIAGNOSIS: bipolar type 2 disorder.

    Question

    1.     How does genetics play in the development of bipolar 2 disorders?  

    Selected Answer:

    The pathophysiology of bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive illness (MDI), has not been fully identified, and there are no objective biologic markers that correspond definitively with the disease state. Twin, family, and adoption studies indicate that bipolar disorder has a significant genetic component. First-degree relatives of a person with bipolar disorder are approximately seven times more likely to develop bipolar disorder than the rest. The heritability of bipolar I disorder (BPI) has recently been estimated at 0.73. Bipolar individuals, who may exhibit psychotic behavior, have deficits in reelin expression linked to genetic loci located on chromosome 22, which confers susceptibility to schizophrenia. Given that, large variations in clinical symptoms still suggest that developmental and environmental factors are as important as genetic factors in contributing to the etiology of mood disorders.

    Correct Answer:

    Correct 

    The pathophysiology of bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive illness (MDI), has not been fully identified, and there are no objective biologic markers that correspond definitively with the disease state. Twin, family, and adoption studies all indicate that bipolar disorder has a significant genetic component. Firstdegree relatives of a person with bipolar disorder are approximately 7 times more likely to develop bipolar disorder than the rest of the population, and the heritability of bipolar I disorder (BPI) has recently been estimated at 0.73. Bipolar individuals, who may exhibit psychotic behavior, have deficits in reelin expression linked to genetic loci located on the chromosome 22, which confers susceptibility to schizophrenia. Given that, there still are large variations in clinical symptoms suggests that developmental and environmental factors are as important as genetic factors in contributing to the etiology of mood disorders.

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    Scenario 2: Bipolar Disorder

    A 44-year-old female  came to the clinic today brought in by her husband. He notes that she has been with various states of depression and irritability over the past 3 months with extreme fatigue, has lost 20 pounds and has insomnia. He has come home from work to find his wife sitting in front of the TV and not moving for hours. In the past few days, she suddenly has become very hyperactive, has been talking incessantly, has been easily distracted and seems to “flit from one thing to another.”. She hasn’t slept in 3 days. The wife went on an excessive shopping spree for new clothes that resulted in their credit card being denied for exceeding the line of credit. The wife is unable to sit in the exam room and is currently pacing the hallway muttering to herself and is reluctant to talk with or be examined the ARNP. Physical observation shows agitated movements, rapid fire speech, and hyperactivity.

    DIAGNOSIS: bipolar type 2 disorder.

    Question

    1.     How does genetics play in the development of bipolar 2 disorders?  

    Selected Answer: The pathophysiology of bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive illness (MDI), has not been fully identified, and there are no objective biologic markers that correspond definitively with the disease state. Twin, family, and adoption studies indicate that bipolar disorder has a significant genetic component. First-degree relatives of a person with bipolar disorder are approximately seven times more likely to develop bipolar disorder than the rest. The heritability of bipolar I disorder (BPI) has recently been estimated at 0.73. Bipolar individuals, who may exhibit psychotic behavior, have deficits in reelin expression linked to genetic loci located on chromosome 22, which confers susceptibility to schizophrenia. Given that, large variations in clinical symptoms still suggest that developmental and environmental factors are as important as genetic factors in contributing to the etiology of mood disorders.
    Correct Answer: The pathophysiology of bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive illness (MDI), has not been fully identified, and there are no objective biologic markers that correspond definitively with the disease state. Twin, family, and adoption studies all indicate that bipolar disorder has a significant genetic component. Firstdegree relatives of a person with bipolar disorder are approximately 7 times more likely to develop bipolar disorder than the rest of the population, and the heritability of bipolar I disorder (BPI) has recently been estimated at 0.73. Bipolar individuals, who may exhibit psychotic behavior, have deficits in reelin expression linked to genetic loci located on the chromosome 22, which confers susceptibility to schizophrenia. Given that, there still are large variations in clinical symptoms suggests that developmental and environmental factors are as important as genetic factors in contributing to the etiology of mood disorders.
    Response Feedback: [None Given]