Impact of Psycho-Education on Burden and other Correlates of Caregivers of Patients Suffering from Bipolar Mood Disorder

Mental illness is a condition that impacts a person's thinking, feeling or mood and may affect his or her ability to relate to others and function on a daily basis. According to the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mental disorders are generally characterized by dysregulation of mood, some combinations of abnormal thoughts, emotions, behavior and relationship with others. According to the World Health Organization report in 2011, one out of seven people in India, i.e., 15 per cent of Indian population was depressed and in 2015, one out of five people in India i.e 20 per cent of Indian population is depressed that showcases an alarming increase in rates of depression by five per cent of the population injust a span of four years putting us all in grave situation (Weblink I). In classifications of mental disorder mood disorder comes under Axis I in Multi Axial System of DSM IV This disorder is one of biological psychiatry's greatest success stories. Pharmacotherapy is the first line offense against episodes of mania and depression. Nonetheless clinicians and researchers are increasingly recognizing the urgency of combining models of psychosocial interventions with pharmacotherapy.Nature of bipolar disorderMood disorders fall into the basic groups of elevated mood, such as mania or hypomania; depressed mood, of which the best-known and most researched is major depressive disorder (MDD) (commonly called clinical depression, unipolar depression, or major depression); and moods which cycle between mania and depression, known as bipolar disorder (BD) (formerly known as manic depression). There are several types of bipolar disorder; all involve episodes of depression and mania to a degree. They include bipolar I, bipolar II, cyclothymic disorder, mixed bipolar, and rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. A person affected by bipolar I disorder has had at least one manic episode in his or her life. A manic episode is a period of abnormally elevated mood, accompanied by abnormal behavior that disrupts life. Bipolar II is similar to bipolar I disorder, with moods cycling between high and low over time. However, in bipolar II disorder, the "up" moods never reach full-on mania. In rapid cycling, a person with bipolar disorder experiences four or more episodes of mania or depression in one year. With mixed bipolar disorder, a person experiences both mania and depression simultaneously or in rapid sequence. Cyclothymia (cyclothymic disorder) is a relatively mild mood disorder. People with cyclothymic disorder have milder symptoms than in full-blown bipolar disorder. During a manic phase, bipolar symptoms include heightened sense of self-importance, exaggerated positive outlook, significantly decreased need for sleep, poor appetite and weight loss, racing speech, flight of ideas, impulsiveness, ideas that move quickly from one subject to the next, poor concentration, easy distractibility, increased activity level, excessive involvement in pleasurable activities, poor financial choices, rash spending sprees, excessive irritability, aggressive behavior. During a depressed phase, bipolar symptoms include feelings of sadness or hopelessness, loss of interest in pleasurable or usual activities, difficulty sleeping; early-morning awakening, loss of energy and constant lethargy, sense of guilt or low self-esteem, difficulty concentrating, negative thoughts about the future, weight gain or weight loss, talk of suicide or death. About one percent of adults experience bipolar disorder at some point, usually starting during or after the teenage years. Men and women are equally likely to be affected. It causes significant distress, disability and marital problems, and is linked to abuse of alcohol, drugs and other substances. When people with bipolar disorder go through mood changes, they usually experience severe changes in their energy and activity levels, sleeping patterns, and other everyday behaviors. …