Clinical Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Clinical Psychology - Essay Example In this disorder, the patient may at one point, feel very low or depressed; in another instant, he may feel very high and elated. The depressed mood usually manifests in the patient first; so a patient may be diagnosed first as clinically depressed then later, when manic episodes manifest, he may be diagnosed with bipolar disorder (National Health Services, 2009). Because of the erratic manifestations of this disease, it is often misdiagnosed as either clinical depression or schizophrenia. Most often, for many years, patients are treated for the wrong illness and manifestations seem to indicate that applied interventions are not effective for the patients. Consequently, this disease has become an important concern among mental health professionals and among sufferers. Latest figures from the World Health Organization (as cited by the Australia Bipolar Schizoaffective Support Network, 2008) reveal that bipolar disorder is the 6th leading cause of disability in the world, with women 3 times more likely than men to experience rapid cycling. Women are also more likely to experience depressive and mixed moods as compared to men; and women are more likely to be misdiagnosed as depressed and men would most likely be diagnosed as schizophrenic (Australia Bipolar Schizoaffective Support Network, 2008). As was previously mentioned, instances of misdiagnosis is prevalent in bipolar disorders and the World Health Organization (as cited by Australia Bipolar Schizoaffective Support Network, 2008) affirms this fact as they reveal that only 1 person in 4 is likely to receive an accurate diagnosis for this disease. This disease has also been known to cause 9.2 years reduction in the expected life span of bipolar patients (Australia Bipolar Schizoaffective Support Network, 2008). Based on statistics from the Department of Health in the United Kingdom, they reveal that bipolar