Role of Community Support in Person with Bipolar Disorder Essay

Role of Community Support in Person with Bipolar Disorder Essay

Role of Community Support in Person with Bipolar Disorder Essay

Introduction

Bipolar disorder is a complex mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs and affects millions of people globally. People living with bipolar disorder face several challenges in their daily lives, including managing symptoms, maintaining stable relationships, and pursuing personal and professional goals. While medical interventions and therapy are important in treating bipolar disorder, community support is equally crucial for people with bipolar disorder. This paper examines the question, “What roles does community support play in a person with bipolar disorder?”

Literature Review

Community support for individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) is crucial for their well-being and recovery. According to a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies conducted by Davenport et al. (499-522), the authors explored the realm of psychological-based interventions for individuals with BD. Their analysis revealed nine significant themes that emerged from individuals’ experiences with these interventions: helpfulness or lack thereof, increased knowledge of BD, mood recognition, control of moods, change of perspective, mood stability, empowerment, improved relationships, and lifestyle changes. This comprehensive evidence indicates that psychological-based interventions possess the potential to positively impact individuals with BD, enabling them to gain control over their moods and lives.

Nevertheless, the review also highlights the challenges of a one-size-fits-all intervention approach. Different individuals may have diverse preferences and needs, and some participants found certain aspects of the interventions unhelpful. This finding emphasizes the importance of a personalized approach recognizing individuals as active participants in their recovery journey. It is crucial to tailor interventions to suit each person’s unique requirements, enhancing the support’s effectiveness and relevance (Davenport et al., 499-522). The article highlights the need for future qualitative research to explore individual experiences across various psychological interventions.

In another study conducted by Malhi et al. (540-549), implementing such strategies as lifestyle changes, psychoeducation, and psychological interventions is vital during the acute phases of bipolar disorder, including mania, depression, and mixed states. These actions are intended to provide a solid foundation for effective management and help individuals with bipolar disorder navigate the challenges they face.

Community support’s role in managing bipolar disorder extends beyond the acute phases and encompasses maintenance and prophylaxis. Community support should be an ongoing component of long-term management through lifestyle changes, psychoeducation, and psychological interventions (Malhi et al., 805-821). This emphasizes the importance of consistent engagement with community resources and support networks to promote stability and prevent relapse. The guidelines further acknowledge the potential benefits of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) during acute phases but do not recommend it for maintenance therapy.

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Community support is also crucial for the personal recovery of individuals with bipolar disorder. Another study by Kraiss et al. (667-685) explored factors associated with personal recovery in bipolar disorder. The study utilized baseline data from a randomized controlled trial and survey data, and the final parsimonious model explained 57.3% of the variance in personal recovery. Notably, social participation emerged as a significant predictor of personal recovery, highlighting the importance of community support. These findings imply that interventions targeting social participation, such as supported employment and vocational rehabilitation, can improve personal recovery in individuals with bipolar disorder.

Furthermore, the study conducted by Kraiss et al. (667-685) emphasizes the significance of addressing anxiety and manic symptoms in individuals with bipolar disorder to enhance personal recovery. Anxiety symptoms negatively impacted personal recovery, while manic symptoms were positively associated. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive treatment approaches that address both the affective and manic symptoms of bipolar disorder. Additionally, the study highlights the relevance of positive rumination in personal recovery. Exercising with savoring strategies can increase positive rumination and improve personal recovery.

Kraiss et al. (667-685) conducted a cross-sectional survey study to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery (QPR) and explore its relationship with well-being, social role participation, and psychopathology in a sample of 102 people diagnosed with BD. The study’s findings revealed that personal recovery, as assessed by the QPR, strongly correlated with well-being and social role participation measures. Additionally, the QPR demonstrated incremental validity by explaining additional variance in symptoms of depression and anxiety above and beyond well-being. These results highlight the importance of personal recovery and emphasize the significant role of community support in treating BD.

Discussion

A supportive community can provide a sense of belonging and acceptance, which is vital for individuals with bipolar disorder who often face stigma and misunderstanding. The community can assist in preventing social isolation among people with bipolar disease by creating an inclusive environment (Samari et al. 403-413). This sense of belonging can significantly improve their mental well-being and overall quality of life.

A community support system can also offer practical assistance and resources to individuals with bipolar disorder. This can include access to mental health services, support groups, and educational programs focusing on managing the condition (Samari et al. 403-413). Supportive communities can help individuals navigate the complexities of treatment options, medications, and therapy, offering valuable insights and guidance. Furthermore, they can assist in identifying early warning signs of mood episodes and help develop coping strategies to mitigate the impact of these episodes.

Based on the evidence from the literature, community support must play a crucial role in the well-being and recovery of individuals with bipolar disorder. Psychological-based interventions have the potential to positively impact bipolar individuals by empowering them, improving relationships, and enabling them to gain control over their moods and lives. However, the review also emphasizes the need for a personalized approach, recognizing individuals’ unique preferences and needs, to enhance the effectiveness and relevance of the support provided.

Additionally, community support is vital during the acute phases and maintenance and prophylaxis of bipolar disorder. Strategies such as lifestyle changes, psychoeducation, and psychological interventions can help individuals manage their challenges and prevent relapse. Social participation emerges as a significant predictor of personal recovery, underscoring the importance of community support in promoting individual well-being. Addressing both anxiety and manic symptoms, as well as fostering positive rumination, are also essential in enhancing personal recovery. The findings highlight the significant role of community support in treating bipolar disorder and emphasize the importance of personal recovery.

Conclusion

Based on this research, it is logical to state that community support is crucial in the well-being and recovery of individuals with bipolar disorder. While psychological-based interventions have shown promise, further research is needed to identify the most effective strategies for empowering individuals, improving relationships, and enhancing mood control. Additionally, research should focus on developing comprehensive treatment approaches that address both the affective and manic symptoms of bipolar disorder, taking into account the impact of anxiety symptoms on personal recovery.

Furthermore, future studies should examine the long-term outcomes of community support interventions, including their impact on relapse prevention and overall quality of life. It would also be valuable to explore the role of technology in delivering community support, such as online support groups and mobile applications, and assess their effectiveness in reaching individuals with bipolar disorder who may face barriers to accessing traditional support systems.

Community support is vital in managing bipolar disorder, as it can provide a sense of belonging, practical assistance, and resources that individuals need to promote recovery. Notably, psychological-based interventions have the potential to meaningfully impact individuals with bipolar disorder, enabling them to gain control over their moods and lives. Furthermore, community support is essential during the acute, maintenance, and prophylaxis phases of bipolar disorder. Social participation is also a significant predictor of personal recovery, emphasizing the importance of community support in promoting individual well-being.

Works Cited

Davenport, Kelly, et al. “Individual Experiences of Psychological-Based Interventions for Bipolar Disorder: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis.” Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, and Practice, Sept. 2019, https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12197. Accessed 13 May 2019.

Kraiss, Jannis T., et al. “Measuring personal recovery in people with bipolar disorder and exploring its relationship with well‐being and social role participation.” Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy 26.5 (2019): 540-549.

Kraiss, Jannis T., et al. “Exploring Factors Associated with Personal Recovery in Bipolar Disorder.” Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, and Practice, vol. 94, no. 3, Mar. 2021, pp. 667–85, https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12339. Accessed 14 Aug. 2021.

Malhi, Gin S., et al. “The 2020 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Clinical Practice Guidelines for Mood Disorders: Bipolar Disorder Summary.” Bipolar Disorders, vol. 22, no. 8, Dec. 2020, https://doi.org/10.1111/bdi.13036.

Samari, Ellaisha, et al. “Perceived Mental Illness Stigma among Family and Friends of Young People with Depression and Its Role in Help-Seeking: A Qualitative Inquiry.” BMC Psychiatry, vol. 22, no. 1, Feb. 2022, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-022-03754-0.

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1. My question for the research:

What roles does a community of support play in a person with bipolar disorder?

2. I attached the assignment and requirments.

3. I attached 4 possible articles, and at least 2 of them should be used, because they are from my college library database (EBSCOhost).