Bipolar_Progression

Applied Project: Bipolar Progression D. Teresa Wilson PSY 496 Professor Dr. Robin Throne January 25, 2011 Applied Project: Bipolar Progression The final applied project paper will focus on the severity of disabling bipolar symptoms, particularly in relation to the patient's age at onset, severity of symptoms at the time of diagnosis and effects on symptom severity with the passage of time. The project will be focused on researching the primary question: “Is bipolar disorder a progressive illness that increases in severity as the patient ages'” Little research has been undertaken regarding bipolar disorder specifically as it pertains to the elderly. The goal of this project is to increase awareness of the existence of bipolar disorder among the elderly as well as determine if bipolar disorder itself is, in fact, degenerative and if so, to what extent. Conceptually, the project sets out to measure the following: The severity of symptoms at the time of the study in correlation to symptom severity at the time of diagnosis and over the patient's lifetime, The percentage of elderly mental health patients who currently suffer with bipolar disorder symptoms and were diagnosed prior to age 25, and The percentage of elderly mental health patients who were diagnosed prior to age 25, have a prior history of symptom difficulty but who do not appear to be symptomatic at the time of the study. In attempting to determine if bipolar disorder is a progressive, degenerative illness which continues to worsen throughout the life of the patient, several methods of research will be incorporated, most of which will be quantitative in nature. In measuring symptom severity, quantitative measures will be used such as examination of patient records from the time of diagnosis to present in order to determine the statistical significance of symptom changes throughout the patient's lifetime. Additionally, qualitative measures will also be incorporated through patient interviews and self-evaluations. In order to statistically determine the percentage elderly patients who were diagnosed prior to age 25 and who suffer with debilitating bipolar symptoms at the time of the study and those who do not appear to be symptomatic at the time of the study, quantitative research will again be incorporated using the quota sampling technique, selecting subjects for the project from among elderly adults in nursing homes who are currently receiving, or have previously received, care for bipolar disorder. Some of the variables present include pretest sensitization, treatment conditions, and subject's own interpretation of interview questions. Subjects will also take the Likert Scale Survey in order to offer greater validity to the interview questions administered as part of this research. The project is more correlational in nature following the ex-post facto design. References: Copernicus Consulting. PowerPoint Research Design [Powerpoint Slides].. Retrieved from http://www.nicebutnubbly.com/classnotes/02ResDsnBB.ppt Cozby, P.C. (2001). Methods in behavioral reseasrch (9th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education Publishing Trochim, W.K. & Donnelly, J.P.  (2008).  Research methods knowledge base (3rd ed.).  Mason, OH: Thomson Custom Publishing