A Brief Overview of Bipolar Spectrum Disorders and Definition

California therapist Jorge Galindo shares a private practice with his wife in the Orange County city of Irvine. Among his areas of clinical experience, Jorge Galindo has completed specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar spectrum disorders.

The term “bipolar spectrum” applies to a range of mental health conditions that involve swings between depression and other extreme psychological and emotional states of mind. Previously, professionals defined it as clear fluctuations between episodes of depression (intense sadness, numbness, or helplessness) and mania (energy and excitability). However, ongoing research revealed that the condition didn’t always manifest through these specific, well-defined symptoms. For example, some chronically depressed patients might experience regular periods of slight emotional elevation and irritability.

When mental health professionals speak of the bipolar spectrum, they refer to a broad range of closely related disorders. The exact definition of bipolar spectrum varies between clinicians. However, most ideations of the bipolar spectrum include bipolar I and II and cyclothymic disorder.

Sleep-Circadian Rhythms Tied to Bipolar Spectrum Disorders

Sharing a private practice with his wife, Miriam Galindo, PsyD, in Irvine, California, Dr. Jorge Galindo is a licensed marriage, family, and child therapist. Among Dr. Jorge Galindo’s areas of extensive knowledge is the assessment and treatment of patients who have bipolar spectrum disorders (BSD).

As reported in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, a recent study by a University of Pittsburgh researcher involved the discovery of a neurobehavioral signature that may predict future mania or hypomania occurrences among those with BSD. Usually arising in young adulthood, BSD involve depression and frequent extreme mood changes, which often necessitate intensive treatments.

Previous research by the professor demonstrated that sleep-circadian rhythm disruptions, as well as heightened reward motivations, can lead to the onset of mania/hypomania. Brain imaging studies demonstrate BSD as particularly associated with elevated activation of reward expectancy within the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, a key reward-processing hub.

In the most recent study, such markers were clustered together and studied, with the hypothesis being that impulsivity, reward sensitivity, and sleep-circadian characteristics would be associated with greater mania risk. The study, with a 12-month followup, demonstrated this and helped identify high-risk, moderate-risk, and healthy groups. It also brought attention to the potential of combined clinical and neurobiological measures in early BSD identification and intervention.

At the same time, London-based researchers uncovered single nucleotide polymorphisms that they characterize as distinct enough to form the basis of the first-ever psychiatric diagnostic test based on biomarkers.

A Look at the Bipolar Disorder Spectrum

Jorge Galindo, a licensed marriage, family, and child therapist, works in Irvine, California alongside his wife, Miriam Galindo, Psy.D. He is a certified domestic violence provider with the City of Orange, where he undertook a doctoral internship at an award-winning inpatient psychiatric hospital, St. Joseph Hospital. During this internship, Dr. Jorge Galindo received special training in assessing bipolar spectrum disorders.

Bipolar spectrum disorder is a group of conditions characterized by extreme mood swings between mania (a mental condition characterized by intense exhilaration or euphoria, delusions, and hyperactivity) and depression. The most common types are bipolar I and bipolar II disorder.

Bipolar I disorder involves episodes of mania that typically last at least one week. During manic episodes, a person may feel euphoric, energetic, and highly productive. However, mania can lead to poor judgment, impulsivity, and other problematic behaviors. Bipolar I disorder also involves depressive episodes.

Bipolar II disorder involves episodes of hypomania, which are less severe than mania but still disruptive. During hypomanic episodes, people experience an elevated mood and increased energy and activity levels. However, they can continue functioning normally. Bipolar II disorder also involves major depressive episodes.

In addition, the bipolar spectrum includes conditions like cyclothymia (a substantial mood fluctuation from the norm, although not as severe as bipolar I and II) and other specified bipolar and related disorders. These involve subthreshold mood episodes that still cause significant distress and impairment. While the specific symptoms and severity vary, all bipolar spectrum disorders share a common theme of extreme fluctuations in mood and energy levels. Mood swings can be unpredictable, and severely impact one’s life and relationships.

Effective management of bipolar spectrum disorder requires a combination of medication, psychotherapy, and lifestyle changes. Medications like mood stabilizers and antipsychotics can help control mood episodes, while psychotherapy can teach coping skills and strategies for managing triggers. Changes in diet, sleep, and daily routines can also help stabilize moods and promote well-being.

Orange County Task Force Releases Domestic Violence Study

Dr. Jorge Galindo is a licensed marriage, family, and child therapist. He has managed a private practice in Irvine, California, alongside his wife since 2000. As a licensed therapist, Dr. Jorge Galindo maintains a number of certifications designed to enhance his professional offerings, including certification as a domestic violence provider in Orange County.

In early 2022, an Orange County task force released findings from a decade-long study of domestic violence. One of the most critical determinations made by the task force involved a call on county officials to address the various barriers and challenges that victims face when looking for support. Without intervention in this area, fatalities resulting from domestic violence are unlikely to change.

The study found that nearly half of the 113 domestic violence deaths in the county involved a person with a recorded history of violence. Despite this fact, only 9 percent of the cases included a restraining order. The lack of restraining orders against individuals known for violence is just one of several systemic issues uncovered during the study.

Domestic Violence Types and Damages

An Irvine, California resident, Dr. Jorge Galindo holds a doctor of psychology obtained from the California School of Professional Psychology. He currently serves at his private office in Irvine, alongside his wife, Miriam, who also holds a Psy.D. At the private office, Dr. Jorge Galindo provides therapy for individuals, adolescents, and families regarding domestic violence.

Domestic violence is a very serious problem in the US as a survey conducted by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reveals that over 10 million Americans experience domestic violence and abuse every year. This statistic also reveals that physical abuse caused by an intimate partner occurs once every 20 or 30 minutes. There are several types of domestic abuse that are caused by intimate partners: physical abuse, verbal abuse, and sexual abuse.

Physical abuse occurs when a person harms their intimate partner or children on purpose. Physical abuse can make people fear for their lives and suffer emotional distress. Verbal abuse occurs when an individual insults and disrespects their partner or children in order to make them feel low. Sexual abuse happens when an individual attempts to have a sexual relationship or activity with their partner without having their consent. This can also involve forcing the partner to have sexual intercourse.

The Behavioral Approach System for Bipolar Spectrum Disorder

 

Bipolar Spectrum Disorder
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A licensed therapist in private practice in Irvine, California, Dr. Jorge Galindo provides family services that include marriage counseling and pediatric therapy. Dr. Galindo completed his doctoral internship at the award-winning St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California. This internship gave Dr. Jorge Galindo targeted training in the assessment/treatment of bipolar spectrum disorders (BSD).

As reported by journals such as Current Directions in Psychological Science and the Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, the behavioral approach system offers an attractive treatment option for patients who suffer from BSD. A behavioral approach system is believed to regulate appetitive motives, in which the objective is to move toward something the patient desires.

Behavioral approach system (BAS) treatment works by regulating appetitive motives to help the patient move closer to the desired goal. In short, BAS provides a framework for patients to analyze their motivations by paying constant and detailed attention to their reactions to stimuli of something desired.

Therapeutic Treatment Services for Perpetrators of Domestic Violence

 

Jorge Galindo
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Irvine, California-based counselor Dr. Jorge Galindo runs a private clinical practice with his wife, Miriam Galindo, Psy.D. Dr. Jorge Galindo, a licensed family therapist and Certified Domestic Violence Provider, handles court-referred cases involving intimate partner violence.

As an alternative to incarceration, many courts and law enforcement departments refer male and female perpetrators of domestic violence to treatment and diversion programs. The goal of these programs is to lower the likelihood of reoffending by addressing the underlying psychological causes of violent and aggressive behavior.

Many of these diversion programs take place in a group therapy setting. During the program, past offenders examine their views on domestic conflicts and gender roles and learn to take responsibility for their reactions and actions. Some intervention programs also include couples counseling sessions and anger management therapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy-based programs enable the perpetrators to become more aware of situations that trigger their anger and equip them with calming exercises and other tools to reduce violent reactive behaviors. Diversion programs based on psychotherapeutic approaches have been shown to reduce violent behavior and improve self-control.

Differences between Bipolar I and Bipolar II Disorder

 

Bipolar
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As a privately practicing therapist, Dr. Jorge Galindo works with individuals, couples, and families. While working at California’s St. Joseph Hospital, Dr. Jorge Galindo received in-depth training in the evaluation and treatment of bipolar disorder.

Most people with recognized bipolar disorder receive a diagnosis of either bipolar I or bipolar II. The conditions are similar in many ways – both involve extreme emotional highs and lows as well as periods in which no symptoms are present.

The primary difference between the two diagnoses lies in the type of emotional highs the person experiences. A person with bipolar I disorder experiences manic episodes, which are periods of intensely heightened emotions and energy. The period lasts a minimum of seven days and may feel euphoric or sexually driven.

A person experiencing true mania often engages in reckless behavior, such as excessive impulse spending or promiscuity. The person may feel reckless, have trouble concentrating, and have a minimal need for sleep. Symptoms typically are noticeable even to the casual observer and are often so intense that they mandate hospital care.

In bipolar II disorder, the person experiences hypomania, a period in which energy and mood are elevated, although not to the degree evident in mania. The person’s behavior is different from the norm and may be noticeable to others but tends to be less disruptive than the behavior of a person with mania.

St. Joseph Hospital – Providing Comprehensive Mental Health Care

St. Joseph Hospital
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A therapist and counselor in Irvine, California, Dr. Jorge Galindo is also a reserve deputy sheriff with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Dr. Jorge Galindo studied at Alliant University’s California School of Professional Psychology and completed an internship at St. Joseph Hospital, an award-winning inpatient psychiatric hospital in Orange, California.

St. Joseph Hospital provides treatment to individuals in need of 24-hour treatment for psychiatric issues or chemical dependency, including comorbid conditions. Patients receive comprehensive care, beginning with a physician consultation to discuss their medical and psychosocial conditions and to create a plan of care. The hospital’s multidisciplinary team then carries out the treatment plans, which entail medication management under supervision and treatment of both psychiatric symptoms and substance dependence, including supervised detoxification from alcohol and other substances.

Also focusing on patient education, St. Joseph Hospital teaches patients about their symptoms and conditions and incorporates a variety of therapeutic modalities into the plan of care, including both individual and group therapy. By providing thorough discharge planning, the hospital aims to prepare patients for a successful transition to their homes or to outpatient programs.

Understanding Different Types of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder
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A reserve deputy with the Orange County Sheriff Department, Dr. Jorge Galindo provides counseling services through his private practice in California alongside his wife, Miriam Galindo, Psy.D. While completing his doctoral internship at the distinguished St. Joseph Hospital, Dr. Jorge Galindo received specialized training in bipolar spectrum disorders.

Bipolar disorder, known for its extreme mood swings with episodes of mania and depression, actually encompasses a spectrum of disorders, including bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymia.

Distinguished mainly by its extreme periods of mania, bipolar I disorder usually includes periods of depression as well. Bipolar II, by contrast, has much lower manic periods, referred to as hypomanias, and more extended depressive episodes, often leading to misdiagnosis as major depression. Cyclothymia refers to a less severe form of the disorder, with alternating periods of hypomania and depression.

Another form of bipolar spectrum disorder known as rapid-cycling includes at least four manic and depressive episodes within a year’s time. The validity of its inclusion remains a matter of debate in psychology.