Mental Health Case Study – NUR611 Advanced Pathophysiology

The purpose of this assignment is to assess your knowledge of mental health disorders. Begin by reviewing this set of patient case studies (https://lmscontent.embanet.com/MVU/NURS611/Case_Studies/Wk_4_Case_Studies.html) .

Once you have reviewed all of the cases, choose one disorder to discuss further. Write a two–to-three-page paper. In your paper, include:
Risk factors
The etiology(ies) of the disorder
The pathophysiology of the disorder
Neurotransmiters and their possible role(s) in the pathophysiologic processes
Findings on neuroimaging for the disorder
Three or more applicable scholarly references
Review the rubric your instructor will use to evaluate your work.
Utilize at least three scholarly and current references to support your wring. Utilize current APA professional paper format

What to Submit
A two- to three-page MicrosoWord document. Please note that the title and reference pages are in addition to the page requirement.
If you copy and paste references from the course into your assignment, be sure to confirm APA formang before submitting.

SAMPLE ASSIGNMENT

Mental Health Disorders

Mental Health Disorders

The case studies have presented various mental health disorders. They include unipolar major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. The disorder focused on in this assignment is bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes unusual changes in one’s activity levels, energy, concentration, and mood (Rogers, 2022). These mood changes can make it hard for the individual to engage in daily activities. There are three types of bipolar disorder and they include bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, and cyclothymic disorder. All three disorders involve shifts in activity levels, energy, and mood of impacted individuals (Rogers, 2022). The purpose of this assignment is to discuss the risk factors, etiology, and pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. The assignment will also discuss findings on neuroimaging for the disorder and its neurotransmitter changes. 

Risk Factors of Bipolar Disorder

There are many risk factors linked to bipolar disorder. One of the risk factors is genetics. Rogers (2022) noted that people with a family history of the condition are at risk of developing bipolar disorder. The second risk factor is brain chemistry. Individuals at risk of developing bipolar disorder may have differences in the process and functions of brain chemicals. Life events such as divorce, the death of a loved one, or a job loss can trigger bipolar disorder episodes in people predisposed to the condition (Gordovez & McMahon, 2020). Lastly, substance abuse such as alcohol and drug use increases risks for bipolar disorder and makes it hard for people with the condition to manage it. 

Etiology of Bipolar Disorder

The cause or etiology of the condition is not fully understood. However, a lot of studies suggest that a combination of environmental and genetic factors causes bipolar disorder. One of the etiologies of the disorder is genetics (Gordovez & McMahon, 2020). People with a family history of the condition are at risk of developing bipolar disorder. However, not every person in a family with a history of bipolar develops the disorder. Other people with the condition are not in a family with a history of the condition. Another cause of the condition is environmental factors such as substance abuse, stressful life events, and certain drugs such as antidepressants and corticosteroids (Gordovez & McMahon, 2020). The disorder is also believed to be caused by certain medical problems such as traumatic brain injury, thyroid problems, and multiple sclerosis. Childhood trauma also causes the condition. People who experienced sexual or physical abuse as a child risk developing bipolar disorder. 

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The Pathophysiology of the Disorder

Bipolar disorder impacts a lot of functions in the body. Scaini et al. (2021) noted that the brain structure in people with bipolar disorder is altered. The authors noted that people with bipolar disorder have differences in the structure and size of certain brain regions such as the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus. These regions are involved in memory, decision-making, and mood regulation. The brain chemistry of people with bipolar disorder often has imbalances in the levels of certain neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. The neurotransmitters are involved in regulating mood, energy levels, and sleep. According to Rapoport (2021), people with bipolar disorder often have lower serotonin levels, especially during depressive episodes. Dopamine levels in people with bipolar disorder are often high, especially when they are experiencing manic episodes (Rapoport, 2021). Also, the level of norepinephrine is often high when people with bipolar disorder are experiencing manic episodes. The brain function of people with bipolar disorder also experiences some changes. Scaini et al. (2021) noted that the brains of people with bipolar disorder might be hyperactive when they are experiencing manic episodes and underactive when they are experiencing depressive episodes. 

Findings on Neuroimaging for The Disorder

Numerous abnormalities in the brains of patients with bipolar disorder have been identified through neuroimaging investigations. These anomalies consist of the following, first, changes in size and shape of specific brain regions, including the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex, may occur in individuals with bipolar illness (Scaini et al., 2021). These areas are important in memory, decision-making, and mood regulation. Second, functional alterations. According to Rapoport (2021), patients with bipolar disorder have diverse brain functions when they are in different mood states. For instance, the brain may be overactive during a manic episode and underactive during a depressive episode. Although neuroimaging research is still in its early stages, the results so far point to several structural and functional alterations in the brain as being related to bipolar disorder. The mood swings and other signs of the disease may be exacerbated by these changes.

Conclusion

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes unusual changes in one’s activity levels, energy, concentration, and mood. The risk factors of the disorder include genetics, brain chemistry, life events, and substance abuse. The etiology of bipolar disorder includes a combination of environmental and genetic factors. The brain chemistry of people with bipolar disorder often has imbalances in the levels of certain neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin.

References

Gordovez, F. J. A., & McMahon, F. J. (2020). The genetics of bipolar disorder. Molecular Psychiatry, 25(3), 544-559. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-019-0634-7

Rapoport, S. I. (2021). Aspirin and celecoxib may help to rectify a neurotransmission imbalance in bipolar disorder. Medical Hypotheses, 149, 110536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2021.110536

Rogers, J. (2022). McCance & Huether’s Pathophysiology – E-Book (9th ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences (US). https://online.vitalsource.com/books/9780323789899

Scaini, G., Andrews, T., Lima, C. N. C., Benevenuto, D., Streck, E. L., & Quevedo, J. (2021). Mitochondrial dysfunction as a critical event in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. Mitochondrion, 57, 23–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mito.2020.12.002