Bipolar Disorder In The Movie Mr Jones

Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric condition that causes extreme mood swings between the extreme high and low. It is also called manic depression. The extreme high can either be mania or hypomania (Hilty, Brady, and Hales, 2006). Both are distinct bipolar disorder episodes, which manifest under the same symptoms. However, mania is severe than hypomania, symptoms are more pronounced, and requires immediate medical attention. Patients are full of energy euphoric and positive psyche in their activities. Also, they have a high heart rate, increased activity, talkative, and mostly irrational. On the extreme low, patients tend to become depressed, hopeless, and lose interest in many things (McCormick, Murray, and McNew, 2015, p 530). There is a noticeable inability to attend to day-to-day activities and divergence in a patient’s social behavior. Also, patients may experience insomnia, restlessness, lack of concentration, suicidal thoughts, weightless, and irritability.

Etiological studies link the bipolar disorder to the anomaly in the neuroendocrine, neurotransmitter, and intracellular signaling systems that are responsible for mood regulation (Bobo, 2017, p.1536). Currently, there is no single study that can explicitly define the causes of bipolar disorder, although genetics appears as the immediate cause. The risk factors identified in association with the disorder include heredity, dizygotic twins, and environmental-cognitive development (Bobo, 2017, p.1536).

The diagnosis of bipolar disorder is guided by the DSM-IV, which recognizes symptoms as mania, hypomania, depressive, and mixed episodes. The differential diagnosis is the preferred method for bipolar disorder, though it is sophisticated and extensive (Hilty, Brady and Hales, 2006, p. 45). The first step entails the consultation of a registered healthcare practitioner who conducts a physical examination. Symptoms of bipolar disorder may lead to mental health evaluation, upon which a patient may be referred to a psychologist or a psychiatrist.

Treatment of bipolar disorder may be through pharmacotherapy or psychosocial. Pharmacological treatment entails prescription of mood stabilizers, atypical antipsychotics, and conventional antidepressants (McCormick, Murray, and McNew, 2015, p 534-535). Psychosocial treatment incorporates educational and supportive therapies in psychological therapy sessions. This method focuses on the ability of a patient to take care of themselves (McCormick, Murray, and McNew, 2015, p 536). Both treatment methods are complementary, exploiting the beneficence of medication and social support.

In the movie Mr Jones, bipolar disorder is depicted when the protagonist is first hired when he charms a teller, spends extravagantly in one day, wrestles music control crew when Dr Bowel reassigns, among other scenes. Initially, Jones is misdiagnosed, which causes his arrest. The second diagnosis reveals that he is a bipolar disorder patient, which explains his behavior in various scenes of the movie. For instance, in his mania, Jones charms Susan into joining him for a day by giving her $100 note. At the beginning of the movie, he pitches his application for a vacancy in a construction site excellently. Jones appears charismatic but provocative. The next day, he requests double pay for his work, and suggest that he can take the foreman’s position. In other scenes, he is extremely generous at the food court and demonstrates a will to spend uncontrollably. At the musical concert, Jones is unable to self-control, and his agitation leads him to the concert stage to wrestle with the music control crew. He is also agitated by the resignation of Cr Bowen, which causes him to decide on leaving the psychotherapy and medication irrationally. Overall, the disorder causes Jones to be arrested, lose job positions, friends and colleagues, and cause his depression.

References

Bobo, W., 2017. The Diagnosis and Management of Bipolar I and II Disorders: Clinical Practice Update. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 92(10), pp.1532-1551.

Hilty, D., Brady, K. and Hales, R., 2006. A Review of Bipolar Disorder Among Adults. Psychiatric Services, 50(2), pp.201-213.

McCormick, U., Murray, B. and McNew, B., 2015. Diagnosis and treatment of patients with bipolar disorder: A review for advanced practice nurses. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 27(9), pp.530-542.