Bipolar disorder is mental illness that affects a person moods. A person experiences manic and depressive episodes. Theses cycles of episodes can interrupt their daily lives making it hard to function. Bipolar disorder is known to feature theory of mind impairment. According to Mitchell & Young (2016)," Theory of mind impairment is a part of social cognition, and can be defined as the ability to infer and predict the intentions, thoughts, desires, intuitions, behavioral reactions, plans, and beliefs of other people , through an awareness that others have a mind with mental states, information, and motivations that may differ from one’s own". People with bipolar disorder may not be able to read social cues and know how to respond. This can negatively affect a person social functioning. The behavioral approach system (BAS) dysregulation theory provides an integrated model for understanding psychosocial and biological features of bipolar disorders (Alloy & Abramson, 2010).According to Alloy & Abramson (2010), "The BAS theory mediated by a set of interacting brain structures in the central nervous system that process and respond to stimuli associated with reward, BAS is hypothesized to be a psychobiological system that integrates approach motivation, personality traits, and behavioral tendencies involved in goal-seeking and reward responsiveness". BAS becomes dysregulated easily and becomes vulnerable to large fluctuations in activation and deactivation (Alloy & Abramson, 2010).
There are many things a person can do to help their loved one. The first step is recognizing the signs , symptoms and getting them professional help. It is vital to understand the disorder. Try to educate yourself on all aspects of bipolar disorder. This way you will better understand what your loved one is going through. A person who has bipolar disorder experiences mood cycles, it is important to be patient with your loved one. Never raising your voice at them . Listening is a key when dealing with a person with bipolar disorder. When they are having a manic episode many times they will have racing thoughts which causes them to talk more than usual . Never ask them to calm down or be quiet. They may become agitated more than usual so listening is key and using your words wisely. Having a good support system is vital. Medications and therapy is essential in treatment of someone with bipolar disorder. Pharmacotherapy medications offers relief for patients. According to Swartz & Swanson (2014), "evidence demonstrates that bipolar disorder-specific psychotherapies, when added to medication for the treatment of bipolar disorder, consistently show advantages over medication alone on measures of symptom burden and risk of relapse". There is hope for your loved one. With the right treatment plan, a person can lead a successful life.
Alloy, L. B., & Abramson, L. Y. (2010). The role of the behavioral approach system (BAS) in bipolar spectrum disorders. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19(3), 189–194. doi.org/10.1177/0963721410370292
Mitchell, R. L., & Young, A. H. (2016). Theory of mind in Bipolar Disorder, with comparison to the impairments observed in Schizophrenia. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 6, 188. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00188
Swartz, H. A., & Swanson, J. (2014). Psychotherapy for Bipolar Disorder in adults: A review of the evidence. Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing), 12(3), 251–266. doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.12.3.251
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