Psychology Perspectives

There are various different approaches in contemporary psychology. 

An approach is a perspective (i.e. view) that involves certain assumptions (i.e. beliefs) about human behavior: the way they function, which aspects of them are worthy of study and what research methods are appropriate for undertaking this study. There may be several different theories within an approach, but they all share these common assumptions.

You may wonder why there are so many different psychology perspectives and whether one approach is correct and others wrong.  Most psychologists would agree that no one perspective is correct, although in the past, in the early days of psychology, the behaviorist would have said their perspective was the only truly scientific one.

Each perspective has its strengths and weaknesses, and brings something different to our understanding of human behavior.  For this reasons, it is important that psychology does have different perspectives to the understanding and study of human and animal behavior.

Below is a brief summary of the 5 main psychological approaches (sometimes called perspectives) in psychology.

Psychology Perspectives

by Saul McLeod published 2007

There are various different approaches in contemporary psychology. 

An approach is a perspective (i.e. view) that involves certain assumptions (i.e. beliefs) about human behavior: the way they function, which aspects of them are worthy of study and what research methods are appropriate for undertaking this study. There may be several different theories within an approach, but they all share these common assumptions.

You may wonder why there are so many different psychology perspectives and whether one approach is correct and others wrong.  Most psychologists would agree that no one perspective is correct, although in the past, in the early days of psychology, the behaviorist would have said their perspective was the only truly scientific one.

Behaviorist Perspective

If your layperson's idea of psychology has always been of people in laboratories wearing white coats and watching hapless rats try to negotiate mazes in order to get to their dinner, then you are probably thinking of behavioral psychology.

Behaviorism is different from most other approaches because they view people (and animals) as controlled by their environment and specifically that we are the result of what we have learned from our environment. Behaviorism is concerned with how environmental factors (called stimuli) affect observable behavior (called the response).

The behaviorist approach proposes two main processes whereby people learn from their environment: namely classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Classical conditioning involves learning by association, and operant conditioning involves learning from the consequences of behavior.

Behaviorism also believes in scientific methodology (e.g. controlled experiments), and that only observable behavior should be studies because this can be objectively measured. Behaviorism rejects the idea that people have free will, and believes that the environment determines all behavior. Behaviorism is the scientific study of observable behavior working on the basis that behavior can be reduced to learned S-R (Stimulus-Response) units.

Classical conditioning (CC) was studied by the Russian psychologist Ivan Pavlov. Though looking into natural reflexes and neutral stimuli he managed to condition dogs to salivate to the sound of a bell through repeated associated of the sound of the bell and food. The principles of CC have been applied in many therapies. These include systematic desensitization for phobias (step-by-step exposed to feared stimulus at once) and aversion therapy.

B.F. Skinner investigated operant conditioning of voluntary and involuntary behavior. Skinner felt that some behavior could be explained by the person's motive. Therefore behavior occurs for a reason, and the three main behavior shaping techniques are positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment.

Behaviorism has been criticized in the way it under-estimates the complexity of human behavior. Many studies used animals which are hard to generalize to humans and it cannot explain for example the speed in which we pick up language. There must be biological factors involved.

Psychodynamic Perspective

Who hasn't heard of Sigmund Freud? So many expressions from our daily life come from Freud's theories of psychoanalysis - subconscious, denial, repression and anal personality to name only a few.

Freud believes that events in our childhood can have a significant impact on our behavior as adults. He also believed that people have little free will to make choices in life. Instead our behavior is determined by the unconscious mind and childhood experiences.

Freud’s psychoanalysis is both a theory and a therapy. It is the original psychodynamic theory and inspired psychologists such as Jung and Erikson to develop their own psychodynamic theories. Freud’s work is vast and he has contributed greatly to psychology as a discipline.

Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, explained the human mind as like an iceberg, with only a small amount of it being visible, that is our observable behavior, but it is the unconscious, submerged mind that has the most, underlying influence on our behavior. Freud used three main methods of accessing the unconscious mind: free association, dream analysis and slips of the tongue. 

He believed that the unconscious mind consisted of three components: the 'id' the 'ego' and the 'superego'.  The 'id' contains two main instincts: 'Eros', which is the life instinct, which involves self-preservation and sex which is fuelled by the 'libido' energy force. 'Thanatos' is the death instinct, whose energies, because they are less powerful than those of 'Eros' are channeled away from ourselves and into aggression towards others.

The 'id' and the 'superego' are constantly in conflict with each other, and the 'ego' tries to resolve the discord. If this conflict is not resolved, we tend to use defense mechanisms to reduce our anxieties. Psychoanalysis attempts to help patients resolve their inner conflicts.

An aspect of psychoanalysis is Freud's theory of psychosexual development. It shows how early experiences affect adult personality. Stimulation of different areas of the body is important as the child progresses through the important developmental stages. Too much or too little can have bad consequences later.

The most important stage is the phallic stage where the focus of the libido is on the genitals.  During this stage little boys experience the 'Oedipus complex', and little girls experience the 'Electra complex'. These complexes result in children identifying with their same-sex parent, which enables them to learn sex-appropriate behavior and a morale code of conduct.

However it has been criticized in the way that it over emphasizes of importance of sexuality and under emphasizes of role of social relationships. The theory is not scientific, and can't be proved as it is circular. Never the less psychoanalysis has been greatly contributory to psychology in that it has encouraged many modern theorists to modify it for the better, using its basic principles, but eliminating its major flaws.

Humanism

Humanistic psychology is a psychological perspective that emphasizes the study of the whole person (know as holism).  Humanistic psychologists look at human behavior not only through the eyes of the observer, but through the eyes of the person doing the behaving.

Humanistic psychologists believe that an individual's behavior is connected to his inner feelings and self-image. The humanistic perspective centers on the view that each person is unique and individual and has the free will to change at any time in his or her lives.

The humanistic perspective suggests that we are each responsible for our own happiness and well-being as humans. We have the innate (i.e. inborn) capacity for self-actualization which is our unique desire to achieve our highest potential as people.

Because of this focus on the person and his or her personal experiences and subjective perception of the world the humanists regarded scientific methods as inappropriate for studying behavior.

Two of the most influential and enduring theories in humanistic psychology that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s are those of Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.

Cognitive Psychology

Psychology was institutionalized as a science in 1879 by Wilhelm Wundt who found the first psychological laboratory.

His initiative was soon followed by other European and American Universities. These early laboratories, through experiments, explored areas such as memory and sensory perception, both of which Wundt believed to be closely related to physiological processes in the brain. The whole movement had evolved from the early philosophers, such as Aristotle and Plato. Today this approach is known as cognitive psychology.

Cognitive Psychology revolves around the notion that if we want to know what makes people tick then the way to do it is to figure out what processes are actually going on in their minds. In other words, psychologists from this perspective study cognition which is ‘the mental act or process by which knowledge is acquired.’

The cognitive perspective is concerned with “mental” functions such as memory, perception, attention etc. It views people as being similar to computers in the way we process information (e.g. input-process-output). For example, both human brains and computers process information, store data and have input an output procedures.

This had led cognitive psychologists to explain that memory comprises of three stages: encoding (where information is received and attended to), storage (where the information is retained) and retrieval (where the information is recalled).

It is an extremely scientific approach and typically uses lab experiments to study human behavior. The cognitive approach has many applications including cognitive therapy and eyewitness testimony.

Biological Psychology

We can thank Charles Darwin (1859) for demonstrating in the idea that genetics and evolution play a role in influencing human behavior through natural selection.

Theorists in the biological perspective who study behavioral genomics consider how genes affect behavior. Now that the human genome is mapped, perhaps, we will someday understand more precisely how behavior is affected by the DNA we inherit. Biological factors such as chromosomes, hormones and the brain all have a significant influence on human behavior, for example gender.

The biological approach believes that most behavior is inherited and has an adaptive (or evolutionary) function. For example, in the weeks immediately after the birth of a child, levels of testosterone in fathers drop by more than 30 per cent. This has an evolutionary function. Testosterone-deprived men are less likely to wander off in search of new mates to inseminate. They are also less aggressive, which is useful when there is a baby around.

Biological psychologists explain behaviors in neurological terms, i.e. the physiology and structure of the brain and how this influences behavior.  Many biological psychologists have concentrated on abnormal behavior and have tried to explain it.  For example biological psychologists believe that schizophrenia is affected by levels of dopamine (a neurotransmitter).

These findings have helped psychiatry take off and help relieve he symptoms of the mental illness through drugs. However Freud and other disciplines would argue that this just treats the symptoms and not the cause. This is where health psychologists take the finding that biological psychologists produce and look at the environmental factors that are involved to get a better picture.

Evolutionary Psychology

A central claim of evolutionary psychology is that the brain (and therefore the mind) evolved to solve problems encountered by our hunter-gatherer ancestors during the upper Pleistocene period over 10,000 years ago.

The Evolutionary approach explains behavior in terms of the selective pressures that shape behavior. Most behaviors that we see/display are believed to have developed during our EEA (environment of evolutionary adaptation) to help us survive.

Observed behavior is likely to have developed because it is adaptive. It has been naturally selected, i.e. individuals who are best adapted survive and reproduce. Behaviors may even be sexually selected, i.e. individuals who are most successful at gaining access to mates leave behind more offspring.

The mind is therefore equipped with ‘instincts’ that enabled our ancestors to survive and reproduce.

A strength of this approach is that it can explain behaviours that appear dysfunctional, such as anorexia, or behaviors that make little sense in a modern context, such as our biological stress response when finding out we are overdrawn at the bank.

Perspectives Conclusion

Therefore, in conclusion, there are so many different perspectives to psychology to explain the different types of behavior and give different angles.  No one perspective has explanatory powers over the rest.

Only with all the different types of psychology which sometimes contradict one another (nature-nurture debate), overlap with each other (e.g. psychoanalysis and child psychology) or build upon one another (biological and health psychologist) can we understand and create effective solutions when problems arise so we have a healthy body and healthy mind.

The fact that there are different perspectives represents the complexity and richness of human (and animal) behavior. A scientific approach, such as behaviorism or cognitive psychology, tends to ignore the subjective (i.e. personal) experiences that people have. 

The humanistic perspective does recognize human experience, but largely at the expense of being non-scientific in its methods and ability to provide evidence.  The psychodynamic perspective concentrates too much on the unconscious mind and childhood. As such it tends to lose sight of the role of socialization (which is different in each country) and the possibility of free will.

The biological perspective reduces humans to a set of mechanisms and physical structures that are clearly essential and important (e.g. genes).  However, it fails to account for consciousness and the influence of the environment on behavior.

Cr :  http://www.simplypsychology.org/perspective.html

Emotional Spiritual Quotient

Mengenal Konsep ESQ (Emotional Spiritual Quotient)

ESQ merupakan sebuah singkatan dari Emotional Spiritual Quotient yang merupakan gabungan EQ dan SQ, yaitu Penggabungan antara pengendalian kecerdasan emosi dan spiritual. Definisi, Emosional Spiritual Quotient (ESQ) Model adalah Model Kemampuan seseorang untuk memberi Makna Spiritual terhadap Pemikiran, Prilaku/Ahlak dan Kegiatan, serta Mampu Menyinergikan IQ (Intelegent Quotient) yang terdiri dari IQ Logika/Berpikir dan IQ Financial/Kecerdasan memenuhi kebutuhan hidupnya/keuangan, EQ (Emosional Quotient) dan SQ(Spiritual Quotient) secara KOMPREHENSIF.

Sekilas ESQ (Emotional & Spiritual Intelligence)

Sumber : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs7Tgk8VZHk

Manfaat yang bisa di dapat adalah tercapai nya keseimabangan antara hubungan Horizontal (manusia dengan manusia) dan Vertikal (manusia dan Tuhan). ESQ juga dapat membuat kita lebih percaya diri dalam melakukan suatu tindakan. 

Contoh model ESQ seseorang dalam kehidupan nyata adalah :

Badu bekerja di Perusahaan Otomotif sebagai BURUH. Tugasnya memasang & mengencangkan baut pada Jok Pengemudi. Tugas Rutin yg sdh dilakukan hampir 10 thn . Karena PENDIDIKAN hanya SLTP, sulit baginya meraih posisi Puncak. Menurut Badu Memasang & mengencangkan Baut pada Jok Pengemudi BUKAN Pekerjaan yang membosankan, Tetapi PEKERJAAN yang MULIA, karena Dia telah menyelamatkan ribuan orang yang mengemudikan mobil – mobil. Dia mengencang kuatkan seluruh kursi Pengemudi yang Mereka duduki, sehingga mereka sekeluarga selamat. Badu bekerja begitu giat, sedang upahnya tidak besar dan dia tidak melakukan mogok kerja untuk menuntut kenaikan upah, Karena Dia memahami keadaan ekonomi sulit dan perusahaan terkena imbas dan memahami keadaan Pimpinan Perusahaan yang sedang dalam Kesulitan. Kalau saya mogok kerja hanya akan memperberat masalah Perusahaan. Badu BEKERJA dengan PRINSIP MEMBERI, bukan untuk Perusahaan namun lebih kepada PENGABDIAN KEPADA TUHAN nya.

Kuliah Umum Ketua ESQ Leadership Centre, Dr. Ari Ginanjar Agustian, ESQ 

Sumber : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JRlhK7bgTw

Agar tercipta HUBUNGAN YANG SEIMBANG antara HUBUNGAN MANUSIA dengan MANUSIA dan HUBUNGAN MANUSIA dengan TUHAN, maka DIPERLUKAN suatu POLA PEMAHAMAN dan PENGAMALAN yang sesuai dengan FITRAH MANUSIA sebagaimana Hadist ROSULULLAH SAW, yaitu “Bukanlah sebaik-baik kamu orang yang bekerja untuk dunianya saja tanpa akhiratnya, dan tidak pula orang-orang yang bekerja untuk akheratnya saja dan meninggalkan dunianya. Dan sesungguhnya, sebaik-baiknya kamu adalah orang yang bekerja untuk akhirat (Tuhan) dan untuk Dunia”. Pola Pemahaman dan Pengamalan itu adalah ESQ MODEL atau Pola Hidup berdasarkan PRINSIP KESEIMBANGAN antara KEPENTINGAN Akherat dan Dunia

1. Howard Chandler Christy, menyatakan bahwa ”Setiap pagi saya menghabiskan lima belas menit untuk mengisi pikiran saya khusus untuk Tuhan. Dan dengan demikian tiada ruang kosong untuk berpikir cemas”.
2. Marian Anderson berkata ”Doa berawal ketika kemampuan manusia berakhir”.
3. Gary Gulbranson pernah berujar bahwa ”Tuhan lebih memperhatikan siapa diri anda daripada apa yang anda kerjakan, dan Dia lebih memperhatikan apa yang anda kerjakan dari pada di mana anda mengerjakannya”.
4. J A Spender berkata ”Takut kepada Tuhan ya, tetapi janganlah ketakutan kepada – Nya”.
5. Iqbal pernah berkata bahwa ”Menyembah Tuhan Yang Esa (meskipun sulit) akan menyelamatkanmu dari menyembah tuhan-tuhan lainnya. Angkatlah diri anda ke tingkat yang Tuhan sendiri memintanya dari anda sesuai dengan yang anda inginkan sebelum menulis takdir anda”.
6. Benjamin Franklin mengungkapkan bahwa ”Bekerjalah seolah-oleh engkau akan hidup seratus tahun lagi; Berdoalah seolah-olah engkau akan meninggal esok hari”.

Belenggu-belenggu Suara Hati adalah :

1. PRASANGKA atau DUGAAN, Oleh karena itu, hindarilah selalu BERPRASANGKA buruk, upayakan berprasangka BAIK kepada orang lain. 
2. PRINSIP/PEDOMAN/ATURAN/PAHAM/AJARAN HIDUP, Oleh sebab itu, Berprinsiplah selalu kepada ALLAH YANG MAHA ABADI. 
3. PENGALAMAN, Maka, bebaskan diri kita dari pengalaman- pengalaman yang membelenggu pikiran, dan berpikirlah merdeka.
4. KEPENTINGAN/PRIORITAS, dengarlah SUARA HATI, peganglah Prinsip Karena Allah, berpikirlah MELINGKAR, sebelum menentukan KEPENTINGAN & PRIORITAS.
5. SUDUT PANDANG, Oleh karena itu, maka lihatlah dari semua SUDUT PANDANG secara BIJAKSANA, dan berdasarkan semua SUARA HATI.
6. PEMBANDING, Albert Einstein pernah berkata, bahwa “ SUATU PERMASALAHAN TIDAK DAPAT DIPECAHKAN DENGAN SUATU PEMIKIRAN YANG TERCIPTA, KETIKA PERMASALAHAN ITU TERJADI”. Karena itu, periksalah pikiran kita terlebih dahulu sebelum MENILAI segala sesuatu, jangan melihat SESUATU karena PIKIRAN kita, tetapi LIHATLAH SESUATU karena apa ADANYA.
7. LITERATUR, Maka dari itu, janganlah kita TERBELENGGU oleh LITERATUR – LITERATUR, berpikirlah dengan MERDEKA, jadilah orang yang BERHATI “ UMMI”.

Dengan membebaskan diri kita dari belenggu-belenggu yang mengganggu dan menghambat pengembangan potensi diri kita, seperti belenggu prasangka negative, belenggu prinsip-prinsip hidup yang menyesatkan, belenggu pengalaman yang mempengaruhi pemikiran kita, belenggu kepentingan dan prioritas yang egois, belenggu sudut pandang yang sempit, belenggu pembanding-pembanding yang bersifat Subyektif dan belenggu literature yang menyesatkan, kita akan menjadi orang yang merdeka dan orang yang berhati fitrah atau bersih yang siap menerima sifat Ketuhanan. 

Spiritual Quotient (SQ) yang dihasilkan dari pemahaman dan pengamalan prinsip Ikhsan, dengan menerima sifat Ketuhanan melahirkan 7 Inti Nilai  (Core Values),  yaitu :

• Jujur
• Tanggung Jawab
• Disiplin
• Kerja Sama
• Adil
• Visioner atau Pendangan/Wawasan Jauh ke Depan
• Peduli

Emotional Quotient (EQ) adalah kecerdasan emosi seseorang bila berhubungan atau berinteraksi dengan orang lain, seperti inisiatif, ketangguhan, optimism, kemampuan beradaptasi seseorang dll. Emotional Quotient (EQ) dapat dibangun dan dikembangkan kemampuannya lewat ESQ (Emotional Spiritual Quotient) Model, yaitu dengan memahami dan mengamalkan iman dalam kehidupan sehari-hari.

Pemahaman dan pengamalan Prinsip Rukun Iman yang Pertama, yaitu Iman kepada Allah atau Star Prinsiple adalah :

• Kita akan lebih bijaksana dalam berhubungan dengan orang lain dan alam semesta;
• Kita akan mempunyai Integritas berupa kegigihan dalam bekerja dan mempunyai kemampuan dalam bidang keahliannya;
• Kita akan mempunyai rasa aman atas setiap apa yang kita kerjakan;
• Kita akan mampu beradaptasi menghadapi situasi yang terus berubah;
• Kita akan mempunyai kepercayaan diri yang besar;
• Kita akan mempunyai Instuisi yang tajam;
• Kita akan mempunyai sumber motivasi yang tidak akan luntur.

Pemahaman dan pengamalan Prinsip Rukun Iman yang Kedua, yaitu Iman kepada Malaikat Allah atau Angel Prinsiple adalah :

• Kita akan mampu bekerja dengan sebaik-baiknya, sepenuh hati, memiliki kesetiaan yang tiada tara, bekerja tanpa kenal lelah dan tidak memiliki kepentingan lain selain menyelesaikan pekerjaan yang diberikan hingga tuntas;
• Kita akan memiliki Integritas dan Loyalitas (Kesetiaan) yang tinggi;
• Kita akan memiliki komitmen (pegang janji) yang tinggi;
• Kita akan memiliki saling percaya yang tinggi kepada sesama manusia;
• Kita akan memiliki kegigihan dalam berusaha (Kausalitas upaya) untuk mendapatkan hasil kerja yang maksimal atau baik.

Pemahaman dan pengamalan Prinsip Rukun Iman yang Ketiga, yaitu Iman kepada Rosul Allah atau Leadership Prinsiple adalah :

• Kita akan mampu menjadi pemimpin yang dicintai;
• Kita akan mampu menjadi pemimpin yang dipercaya;
• Kita akan mampu menjadi pemimpin sekaligus pembimbing;
• Kita kan mampu menjadi pemimpin yang berkepribadian;
• Kita akan mampu menjadi pemimpin yang abadi, seperti Rusulullah Muhammad SAW

Pemahaman dan pengamalan Prinsip Rukun Iman yang Keempat, yaitu Iman kepada Kitab Allah atau Learning Prinsiple adalah :

• Kita akan selalu belajar atau membaca;
• Kita akan selalu mencari kebenaran;
• Kita akan selalu berpikir kritis;
• Kita akan selalu mengevaluasi diri kita dan menyempurnakannnya (up grade) diri kita untuk mencapai kesempurnaan;
• Kita akan selalu mencari pedoman atau ilmu pengetahuan yang dimiliki oleh Allah

Pemahaman dan pengamalan Prinsip Rukun Iman yang Kelima, yaitu Iman kepada Hari Akhir atau Vision Prinsiple adalah :

• Kita akan selalu berorientasi pada tujuan jangka pendek dan tujuan jangka panjang;
• Kita akan selalu berusaha mengoptimalkan upaya atau usaha untuk mencapai tujuan kita;
• Kita akan selalu mempunyai pengendalian diri dan social;
• Kita akan selalu mempunyai jaminan masa depan;
• Kita akan selalu mempunyai ketenangan batiniah.

Pemahaman dan pengamalan Prinsip Rukun Iman yang Keenam, yaitu Iman kepada Hari Qodho dan Qodhar Allah atau Well Organized Prinsiple adalah :

• Kita akan selalu memulai pekerjaan dengan menentukan tujuan akhir terlebih dahulu;
• Kita akan selalu melaksanakan semua kegiatan atau aktivitas melalui proses tahap demi tahap;
• Kita akan selalu meyakini adanya kepastian Hukum Alam dan Hukum Sosial;
• Kita akan selalu berorientasi pembentukan system yang selalu bersinergi dengan system buatan Allah;
• Kita akan selalu dalam membuat system meneladani system managemen alam semesta;
• Kita akan selalu berorientasi pada pemeliharaan system yang sudah baik dengan menjaga sinergi.

Setelah kita paham dan mengamalkan Prinsip Ikhsan dan Rukun Iman atau SQ dan EQ dalam diri kita dan kita berada pada posisi telah memiliki pegangan atau prinsip hidup yang kokoh dan jelas, maka kita bias dikatakan telah memiliki Ketangguhan Pribadi atau Personal Stength.

Ciri kita telah memiliki ketangguhan pribadi adalah jika :

• Tidak terpengaruh oleh lingkungannya yang terus berubah dengan cepat;
• Tidak goyah meski diterpa badai sekeras apapun;
• Mampu untuk mengambil suatu keputusan yang bijaksana dengan menyelaraskan prinsip atau pedoman hidup yang dianut dengan kondisi lingkungan, tanpa harus kehilangan pegangan atau pedoman hidup;
• Mempunyai prinsip dari dalam diri yang mengalir ke luar, bukan dari luar dirinya masuk ke dalam diri;
• Mampu mengendalikan pikirannya sendiri ketika berhadapan dengan situasi yang menekan;
• Mempunyai kemerdekaan dari berbagai belenggu yang menyesatkan penglihatan dan pikiran serta terbebas dari paradigm yang keliru;
• Mampu untuk memilih respon atau reaksi yang sesuai dengan prinsip yang dianut;
• Memiliki pedoman yang jelas dalam mencari tujuan hidup dan tetap fleksibel serta bijaksana dalam menghadapi berbagai realitas kehidupan yang riil;
• Mampu keluar dari dalam diri untuk melihat dirinya sendiri dari luar, sehingga mampu bersikap adil dan terbuka pada dirinya dan orang lain.

Kita  dikatakan tangguh secara pribadi, jika kita telah memiliki EQ yang paripurna, yaitu kita telah memiliki dan paham serta mengamalkan 6 (enam) prinsip moral atau rukun Iman, yaitu :

• Kita telah memiliki, memahami dan mengamalkan prinsip dasar Tauhid (Star Principle), yaitu berprinsip hanya kepada Allah atau mempunyai Spiritual Commitment;
• Kita telah memiliki, memahami dan mengamalkan prinsip Kepercayaan (Angel Principle), berupa komitmen seperti malaikat atau Spiritual Integrity;
• Kita telah memiliki, memahami dan mengamalkan prinsip Kepemimpinan (Leadership Principle), berupa meneladani Nabi dan Rosul atau Spiritual Leadership;
• Kita telah memiliki, memahami dan mengamalkan prinsip Pembelajaran (Lerning Principle), berpa berpedoman pada Al – Qur’an atau Continuous Improvement;
• Kita telah memiliki, memahami dan mengamalkan prinsip Masa Depan (Vision Principle), berupa beriman pada hari Kemudian atau Spiritual Vision;
• Kita telah memiliki, memahami dan mengamalkan prinsip Keteraturan (Well Organized Principle), berupa ikhlas pada Ketentuan dari Allah SWT atau Rules.

Agar Konsep SQ dari pemahaman dan pengamalan Ikhsan atas Asmaul Khusna dan Konsep EQ dari pemahaman dan pengamalan Rukun Iman kita, dapat diimplementasikan dalam kehidupan kita sehari-hari, sehingga misi penciptaan kita sebagai Manusia di Muka Bumi yaitu beribadah kepada Allah SWT dan tugas yang diemban kita sebagai manusia di alam semesta sebagai Khalifah atau pengelola atau penguasa alam semesta tercapai, maka diperlukan konsep Aplikasi Penggabungan IQ, EQ dan SQ dalam kegiatan operasional sehari-hari kita sebagai manusia. Konsep tersebut dikenal dengan Rukun Islam, yang terdiri dari :
a)    2 (dua) Kalimat Syahadat (Mission Statement/Penetapan Misi)
b)   Sholat (Character Building/Pembangunan Karakter/sifat/tabiat)
c)    Puasa (Self Controlling/Pengendalian diri)
d)   Zakat (Strategic Collaboration/Sinergi)
e)    Haji (Total Action/Aplikasi Total)

Pemahaman dan pengamalan Konsep Rukun Islam yang merupakan konsep Aplikasi Penggabungan IQ, EQ dan SQ dalam kegiatan operasional sehari-hari kita sebagai manusia adalah sebagai berikut :

Dengan Pemahaman dan pengamalan Konsep Rukun Islam yang Pertama yaitu 2 (dua) kalimat Syahadat (Mission Statement), maka dalam keseharian kita, akan terbentuk tabiat atau sifat atau kebiasaan sebagai berikut :

• Kita akan dapat membangun misi Kehidupan, yaitu tiada Ilah (segala sesuatu yang dicintai, diikuti dan ditakuti) kecuali Allah dan Muhammad SAW adalah utusan atau tauladan atau Uswah dalam mengabdi kepada Allah SWT;
• Kita akan membulatkan tekad kita dalam mencapai Visi kita, yaitu mencapai kebahagiaan dunia dan akherat dengan menjadikan kita rahmatan lil alamin atau memulai dengan tujuan akhir;
• Kita akan dapat membangun visi kita yaitu menuju Allah atau Tuhan yang maha tinggi dengan menjadikan kita rahmatan lil alamin;
• Kita akan dapat menciptakan wawasan kita dalam bekerja keras untuk menuju Allah dengan memelihara wawasan kita, seakan-akan ia anak-anak jiwa kita, rancangan untuk mencapai akhir kita;
• Kita akan dapat mentransformasikan nilai spiritual atau asmaul husna ke dalam membumikan nilai spiritual atau asmaul khusna, sehingga tercipta akhlakul kharimah;
• Kita akan mempunyai komitmen total untuk mencapai visi kehidupan yaitu mencapai kebahagiaan dunia dan akherat dengan menjadikan diri kita rahmatan lil alamin dan merealisasikan misi kita yaitu tiada illah (segala sesuatu yang dicintai, diikuti dan ditakuti) kecuali Allah dan Muhammad SAW adalah utusan atau tauladan atau Uswah dalam mengabdi kepada Allah SWT.

Dengan Pemahaman dan pengamalan Konsep Rukun Islam yang Kedua yaitu Sholat  (Character Bulding), maka dalam keseharian kita, akan terbentuk tabiat atau sifat atau kebiasaan sebagai berikut :

• Kita akan mempunyai waktu untuk relaksasi atau istirahat menyegarkan diri atau menjernihkan pikiran;
• Kita akan mampu membangun kekuatan afirmasi (penegasan kembali), yaitu kekuatan yang dapat memvisualisasikan prinsip hidup yang diperolehnya melalui rukun Iman, dan menyelaraskan antara nilai-nilai dasar keimanan (asmaul khusna) dengan realitas kehidupan atau kenyataan hidup yang harus dihadapi. Afirmasi atau penegasan kembali memiliki lima dasar yaitu pribadi, positif, masa kini, visual dan emosi;
• Kita akan mampu meningkatkan kecerdasan emosi dan spiritual (ESQ), yaitu kecakapan emosi dan spiritual, berupa konsistensi (istiqomah), kerendahan hati (tawadhu), berusaha dan berserah diri (tawakal), ketulusan atau sincerity (Keikhlasan), totalitas (Kaffah), keseimbangan (tawazun), integritas dan penyempurnaan (ikhsan), dan komitmen;
• Kita akan mampu membangun pengalaman positif, yaitu menciptakan pengalaman batiniah sekaligus pengalaman fisik (reinforcement) yang mendorong paradigm baru/pergeseran paradigm baru (new paradigm shift) yang positif;

• Kita akan membangkitkan dan menyeimbangkan energy batiniah, yaitu sumber daya manusia yang diilhami “Cahaya Allah” yang akan turut berperan untuk memakmurkan bumi, bias menambah energy baru yang terakumulasi menjadi kumpulan dorongan dahyat untuk segera berkarya (beribadah) dan mengaplikasikan pemikiran kita ke dalam alam realita kita, yang merupakan perjuangan nyata kita dalam menjalankan misi kita sebagai manusia yaitu Rahmatan Lil Alamin;
• Kita akan mempunyai cara atau metode pengasahan prinsip rukun iman (EQ), yaitu pelatihan menyeluruh untuk menjaga dan meningkatkan kualitas kejernihan emosi dan spiritual kita, menanamkan tujuan hidup (core purpose) ke dalam jiwa kita sebagai manusia, yaitu berupa terbangunnya kejelasan visi kita yaitu kebahagiaan hidup di dunia dan akherat dan Rahmatan Lil Alamin serta misi kita sebagai manusia yaitu beribadah kepada Allah, yang membuat hidup kita sebagai manusia menjadi mantap dalam menjalani setiap aktivitas hidup kita;
• Kita akan mempunyai pelatihan ketangguhan social (social strength), yaitu berupa sholat berjamaah atau tim yang terkoordinasi.

Dengan Pemahaman dan pengamalan Konsep Rukun Islam yang Ketiga yaitu Puasa (Self Controlling), maka dalam keseharian kita, akan terbentuk tabiat atau sifat atau kebiasaan sebagai berikut :

• Kita akan meraih kemerdekaan sejati, yaitu merdeka dan bebas dari berbagai belenggu yang mengungkung titik Tuhan (God Spot/Spiritual Capital) kita;
• Kita akan dapat memelihara titik Tuhan (God Spot/Spiritual Capital) pada diri kita, yaitu melindungi core values atau fitrah ruh ilahiah dan menjaga isi God Spot/Spiritual Capital agar selalu tetap memiliki kejernihan hati dan menghentikan bentuk penghambaan kepada selain Allah, sebagaimana disebutkan dalam Hadis Qudsi “Seorang hamba akan mendekatkan diri kepadaku dengan puasa, hingga aku mencintainya, dan bila aku mencintainya, menjadilah pendengaranku yang digunakan untuk mendengar, penglihatanku yang digunakan untuk melihat, tanganku yang digunakan untuk bertindak, serta kakiku yang digunakan untuk berjalan”;
• Kita akan dapat mengendalikan suasana hati kita yang sangat berkuasa atas wawasan, pikiran dan tindakan;
• Kita akan dapat meningkatkan kecakapan emosi (EQ) secara fisiologis, hal ini dibuktikan oleh penelitian yang dilakukan oleh Daniel Goleman tarhadap anak-anak tk di Stanford USA;
• Kita akan dapat mengendaliakn prinsip Rukun Iman (EQ), yaitu pengendalian pikiran dan hati agar tetap berada pada garis orbit yang telah digariskan dalam prinsip berpikir berdasarkan Rukun Iman;

Dengan Pemahaman dan pengamalan Konsep Rukun Islam yang Keempat yaitu Zakat (Stategik Collaboration), maka dalam keseharian kita, akan terbentuk tabiat atau sifat atau kebiasaan sebagai berikut :

• Kita akan mampu mengeluarkan semua potensi spiritual (core values), yaitu dengan mempergunakan dan member system pendelegasian fitrah (core values) semua sumber daya yang dipunyai untuk melakukan sinergi dalam rangka mencapai sebuah tujuan secara efektif dalam tindakan seperti member perhatian dan penghargaan kepada orang, memahami perasaan orang lain, menepati janji yang sudah kita berikan, bersikap toleran, mau mendengarkan orang lain, bersikap empati, menunjukkan integritas, menunujkkan sikap rahman dan rahim kepada orang lain dan suka menolong orang lain;
• Kita akan menciptakan investasi kepercayaan diantara kedua belah pihak, mencairkan dan menghapus prasangka negative akibat perbedaan sudut pandang, dan mengubahnya menjadi hubungan saling percaya dua arah yang mendalam;
• Kita akan dapat menciptakan investasi komitmen atau janji dua arah yang mendalam;
• Kita akan mampu membangun dan menciptakan landasan kooperatif positif dan kondusif bagi terciptanya sebuah sinergi;
• Kita akan mampu menciptakan investasi kredibilitas yang dibutuhkan sebagai pondasi untuk melakukan aliansi dengan orang lain;
• Kita akan mampu menciptakan investasi keterbukaan, empati dan kompromi dalam berhubungan dengan orang lain.

Dengan Pemahaman dan pengamalan Konsep Rukun Islam yang Kelima yaitu Haji (Total Action), maka dalam keseharian kita, akan terbentuk tabiat atau sifat atau kebiasaan sebagai berikut :

• Kita akan mampu memulai langkah mengosongkan pikiran dan suara hati kita (Zero Mind) dengan melakukan Ihram;
• Kita Kita akan mampu melakukan evaluasi diri dan visualisasi gambaran masa depan atau wawasan melalui pelaksanaan wukuf di Arafah;
• Kita akan mampu menghadapi tantangan yang selalu mengahadang melalui pelaksanaan lontar jumroh;
• Kita akan mampu untuk mengasah komitmen atau janji dan integritas melalui Thawaf;
• Kita akan mampu untuk mengasah AQ (Adversity Quotient), yaitu kecerdasan kita dalam mengatasi kesulitan dan sanggup bertahan hidup dengan melalui pelaksanaan sai;
• Kita akan mampu menyinergikan seluruh potensi umat melalui pelaksanaan hajiitu sendiri oleh jemaah haji, termasuk diri kita.

Cr :  http://entrepreneurshiplearningcenter.blogspot.com/2013/01/mengenal-konsep-esq-emotional-spiritual.html

Bipolar Disorder

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They are different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through from time to time. Bipolar disorder symptoms can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. But bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives.

Causes

Scientists are studying the possible causes of bipolar disorder. Most scientists agree that there is no single cause. Rather, many factors likely act together to produce the illness or increase risk.
Genetics
Bipolar disorder tends to run in families. Some research has suggested that people with certain genes are more likely to develop bipolar disorder than others. Children with a parent or sibling who has bipolar disorder are much more likely to develop the illness, compared with children who do not have a family history of bipolar disorder. However, most children with a family history of bipolar disorder will not develop the illness.
Technological advances are improving genetic research on bipolar disorder. One example is the launch of the Bipolar Disorder Phenome Database, funded in part by NIMH. Using the database, scientists will be able to link visible signs of the disorder with the genes that may influence them.
Scientists are also studying illnesses with similar symptoms such as depression and schizophrenia to identify genetic differences that may increase a person's risk for developing bipolar disorder. Finding these genetic "hotspots" may also help explain how environmental factors can increase a person's risk.
But genes are not the only risk factor for bipolar disorder. Studies of identical twins have shown that the twin of a person with bipolar illness does not always develop the disorder, despite the fact that identical twins share all of the same genes. Research suggests that factors besides genes are also at work. It is likely that many different genes and environmental factors are involved. However, scientists do not yet fully understand how these factors interact to cause bipolar disorder.
Brain structure and functioning
Brain-imaging tools, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), allow researchers to take pictures of the living brain at work. These tools help scientists study the brain's structure and activity.
Some imaging studies show how the brains of people with bipolar disorder may differ from the brains of healthy people or people with other mental disorders. For example, one study using MRI found that the pattern of brain development in children with bipolar disorder was similar to that in children with "multi-dimensional impairment," a disorder that causes symptoms that overlap somewhat with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. This suggests that the common pattern of brain development may be linked to general risk for unstable moods.
Another MRI study found that the brain's prefrontal cortex in adults with bipolar disorder tends to be smaller and function less well compared to adults who don't have bipolar disorder. The prefrontal cortex is a brain structure involved in "executive" functions such as solving problems and making decisions. This structure and its connections to other parts of the brain mature during adolescence, suggesting that abnormal development of this brain circuit may account for why the disorder tends to emerge during a person's teen years. Pinpointing brain changes in youth may help us detect illness early or offer targets for early intervention.
The connections between brain regions are important for shaping and coordinating functions such as forming memories, learning, and emotions, but scientists know little about how different parts of the human brain connect. Learning more about these connections, along with information gained from genetic studies, helps scientists better understand bipolar disorder. Scientists are working towards being able to predict which types of treatment will work most effectively.

Signs & Symptoms

People with bipolar disorder experience unusually intense emotional states that occur in distinct periods called "mood episodes." Each mood episode represents a drastic change from a person’s usual mood and behavior. An overly joyful or overexcited state is called a manic episode, and an extremely sad or hopeless state is called a depressive episode. Sometimes, a mood episode includes symptoms of both mania and depression. This is called a mixed state. People with bipolar disorder also may be explosive and irritable during a mood episode.
Extreme changes in energy, activity, sleep, and behavior go along with these changes in mood. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are described below.

Symptoms of mania or a manic episode include:

Symptoms of depression or a depressive episode include:

Mood Changes A long period of feeling "high," or an overly happy or outgoing mood Extreme irritability Behavioral Changes Talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another, having racing thoughts Being easily distracted Increasing activities, such as taking on new projects Being overly restless Sleeping little or not being tired Having an unrealistic belief in one's abilities Behaving impulsively and engaging in pleasurable, high-risk behaviors

Mood Changes An overly long period of feeling sad or hopeless Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, including sex. Behavioral Changes Feeling tired or "slowed down" Having problems concentrating, remembering, and making decisions Being restless or irritable Changing eating, sleeping, or other habits Thinking of death or suicide, or attempting suicide.

Bipolar disorder can be present even when mood swings are less extreme. For example, some people with bipolar disorder experience hypomania, a less severe form of mania. During a hypomanic episode, you may feel very good, be highly productive, and function well. You may not feel that anything is wrong, but family and friends may recognize the mood swings as possible bipolar disorder. Without proper treatment, people with hypomania may develop severe mania or depression.
Bipolar disorder may also be present in a mixed state, in which you might experience both mania and depression at the same time. During a mixed state, you might feel very agitated, have trouble sleeping, experience major changes in appetite, and have suicidal thoughts. People in a mixed state may feel very sad or hopeless while at the same time feel extremely energized.
Sometimes, a person with severe episodes of mania or depression has psychotic symptoms too, such as hallucinations or delusions. The psychotic symptoms tend to reflect the person's extreme mood. For example, if you are having psychotic symptoms during a manic episode, you may believe you are a famous person, have a lot of money, or have special powers. If you are having psychotic symptoms during a depressive episode, you may believe you are ruined and penniless, or you have committed a crime. As a result, people with bipolar disorder who have psychotic symptoms are sometimes misdiagnosed with schizophrenia.
People with bipolar disorder may also abuse alcohol or substances, have relationship problems, or perform poorly in school or at work. It may be difficult to recognize these problems as signs of a major mental illness.
Bipolar disorder usually lasts a lifetime. Episodes of mania and depression typically come back over time. Between episodes, many people with bipolar disorder are free of symptoms, but some people may have lingering symptoms.

Who Is At Risk?

Bipolar disorder often develops in a person's late teens or early adult years. At least half of all cases start before age 25. Some people have their first symptoms during childhood, while others may develop symptoms late in life.

Diagnosis

Doctors diagnose bipolar disorder using guidelines from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). To be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the symptoms must be a major change from your normal mood or behavior. There are four basic types of bipolar disorder:

1. Bipolar I Disorder—defined by manic or mixed episodes that last at least seven days, or by manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs immediate hospital care. Usually, depressive episodes occur as well, typically lasting at least 2 weeks.
2. Bipolar II Disorder—defined by a pattern of depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes, but no full-blown manic or mixed episodes.
3. Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (BP-NOS)—diagnosed when symptoms of the illness exist but do not meet diagnostic criteria for either bipolar I or II. However, the symptoms are clearly out of the person's normal range of behavior.
4. Cyclothymic Disorder, or Cyclothymia—a mild form of bipolar disorder. People with cyclothymia have episodes of hypomania as well as mild depression for at least 2 years. However, the symptoms do not meet the diagnostic requirements for any other type of bipolar disorder.

A severe form of the disorder is called Rapid-cycling Bipolar Disorder. Rapid cycling occurs when a person has four or more episodes of major depression, mania, hypomania, or mixed states, all within a year. Rapid cycling seems to be more common in people who have their first bipolar episode at a younger age. One study found that people with rapid cycling had their first episode about 4 years earlier—during the mid to late teen years—than people without rapid cycling bipolar disorder. Rapid cycling affects more women than men. Rapid cycling can come and go.
When getting a diagnosis, a doctor or health care provider should conduct a physical examination, an interview, and lab tests. Currently, bipolar disorder cannot be identified through a blood test or a brain scan, but these tests can help rule out other factors that may contribute to mood problems, such as a stroke, brain tumor, or thyroid condition. If the problems are not caused by other illnesses, your health care provider may conduct a mental health evaluation or provide a referral to a trained mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, who is experienced in diagnosing and treating bipolar disorder.
The doctor or mental health professional should discuss with you any family history of bipolar disorder or other mental illnesses and get a complete history of symptoms. The doctor or mental health professional should also talk to your close relatives or spouse about your symptoms and family medical history.
People with bipolar disorder are more likely to seek help when they are depressed than when experiencing mania or hypomania. Therefore, a careful medical history is needed to assure that bipolar disorder is not mistakenly diagnosed as major depression. Unlike people with bipolar disorder, people who have depression only (also called unipolar depression) do not experience mania.
Bipolar disorder can worsen if left undiagnosed and untreated. Episodes may become more frequent or more severe over time without treatment. Also, delays in getting the correct diagnosis and treatment can contribute to personal, social, and work-related problems. Proper diagnosis and treatment help people with bipolar disorder lead healthy and productive lives. In most cases, treatment can help reduce the frequency and severity of episodes.
Substance abuse is very common among people with bipolar disorder, but the reasons for this link are unclear. Some people with bipolar disorder may try to treat their symptoms with alcohol or drugs. However, substance abuse may trigger or prolong bipolar symptoms, and the behavioral control problems associated with mania can result in a person drinking too much.
Anxiety disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social phobia, also co-occur often among people with bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder also co-occurs with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which has some symptoms that overlap with bipolar disorder, such as restlessness and being easily distracted.
People with bipolar disorder are also at higher risk for thyroid disease, migraine headaches, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other physical illnesses. These illnesses may cause symptoms of mania or depression. They may also result from treatment for bipolar disorder.

Treatments

Bipolar disorder cannot be cured, but it can be treated effectively over the long-term. Proper treatment helps many people with bipolar disorder—even those with the most severe forms of the illness—gain better control of their mood swings and related symptoms. But because it is a lifelong illness, long-term, continuous treatment is needed to control symptoms. However, even with proper treatment, mood changes can occur. In the NIMH-funded Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD) study—the largest treatment study ever conducted for bipolar disorder—almost half of those who recovered still had lingering symptoms. Having another mental disorder in addition to bipolar disorder increased one's chances for a relapse. See STEP-BD for more information.
Treatment is more effective if you work closely with a doctor and talk openly about your concerns and choices. An effective maintenance treatment plan usually includes a combination of medication and psychotherapy.
Medications
Different types of medications can help control symptoms of bipolar disorder. Not everyone responds to medications in the same way. You may need to try several different medications before finding ones that work best for you.
Keeping a daily life chart that makes note of your daily mood symptoms, treatments, sleep patterns, and life events can help you and your doctor track and treat your illness most effectively. If your symptoms change or if side effects become intolerable, your doctor may switch or add medications.
The types of medications generally used to treat bipolar disorder include mood stabilizers, atypical antipsychotics, and antidepressants. For the most up-to-date information on medication use and their side effects, contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Mood stabilizers are usually the first choice to treat bipolar disorder. In general, people with bipolar disorder continue treatment with mood stabilizers for years. Lithium (also known as Eskalith or Lithobid) is an effective mood stabilizer. It was the first mood stabilizer approved by the FDA in the 1970's for treating both manic and depressive episodes.
Anticonvulsants are also used as mood stabilizers. They were originally developed to treat seizures, but they also help control moods. Anticonvulsants used as mood stabilizers include:

• Valproic acid or divalproex sodium (Depakote), approved by the FDA in 1995 for treating mania. It is a popular alternative to lithium. However, young women taking valproic acid face special precautions.
• Lamotrigine (Lamictal), FDA-approved for maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. It is often effective in treating depressive symptoms.
• Other anticonvulsant medications, including gabapentin (Neurontin), topiramate (Topamax), and oxcarbazepine (Trileptal).

Valproic acid, lamotrigine, and other anticonvulsant medications have an FDA warning. The warning states that their use may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. People taking anticonvulsant medications for bipolar or other illnesses should be monitored closely for new or worsening symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, or any unusual changes in mood or behavior. If you take any of these medications, do not make any changes to your dosage without talking to your doctor.
What are the side effects of mood stabilizers?
Lithium can cause side effects such as:

• Restlessness
• Dry mouth
• Bloating or indigestion
• Acne
• Unusual discomfort to cold temperatures
• Joint or muscle pain
• Brittle nails or hair.

When taking lithium, your doctor should check the levels of lithium in your blood regularly, and will monitor your kidney and thyroid function as well. Lithium treatment may cause low thyroid levels in some people. Low thyroid function, called hypothyroidism, has been associated with rapid cycling in some people with bipolar disorder, especially women.
Because too much or too little thyroid hormone can lead to mood and energy changes, it is important that your doctor check your thyroid levels carefully. You may need to take thyroid medication, in addition to medications for bipolar disorder, to keep thyroid levels balanced.
Common side effects of other mood stabilizing medications include:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Heartburn
• Mood swings
• Stuffed or runny nose, or other cold-like symptoms.

These medications may also be linked with rare but serious side effects. Talk with your doctor or a pharmacist to make sure you understand signs of serious side effects for the medications you're taking. If extremely bothersome or unusual side effects occur, tell your doctor as soon as possible.
Should young women take valproic acid?
Valproic acid may increase levels of testosterone (a male hormone) in teenage girls. It could lead to a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women who begin taking the medication before age 20. PCOS can cause obesity, excess body hair, an irregular menstrual cycle, and other serious symptoms. Most of these symptoms will improve after stopping treatment with valproic acid. Young girls and women taking valproic acid should be monitored carefully by a doctor.
Atypical antipsychotics are sometimes used to treat symptoms of bipolar disorder. Often, these medications are taken with other medications, such as antidepressants. Atypical antipsychotics include:

• Olanzapine (Zyprexa), which when given with an antidepressant medication, may help relieve symptoms of severe mania or psychosis. Olanzapine can be taken as a pill or a shot. The shot is often used for urgent treatment of agitation associated with a manic or mixed episode. Olanzapine can be used as maintenance treatment as well, even when psychotic symptoms are not currently present.
• Aripiprazole (Abilify), which is used to treat manic or mixed episodes. Aripiprazole is also used for maintenance treatment. Like olanzapine, aripiprazole can be taken as a pill or a shot. The shot is often used for urgent treatment of severe symptoms.
• Quetiapine (Seroquel), risperidone (Risperdal) and ziprasidone (Geodon) also are prescribed to relieve the symptoms of manic episodes.

What are the side effects of atypical antipsychotics?
If you are taking antipsychotics, you should not drive until you have adjusted to your medication. Side effects of many antipsychotics include:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness when changing positions
• Blurred vision
• Rapid heartbeat
• Sensitivity to the sun
• Skin rashes
• Menstrual problems for women.

Atypical antipsychotic medications can cause major weight gain and changes in your metabolism. This may increase your risk of getting diabetes and high cholesterol. Your doctor should monitor your weight, glucose levels, and lipid levels regularly while you are taking these medications.
In rare cases, long-term use of atypical antipsychotic drugs may lead to a condition called tardive dyskinesia (TD). The condition causes uncontrollable muscle movements, frequently around the mouth. TD can range from mild to severe. Some people with TD recover partially or fully after they stop taking the drug, but others do not.
Antidepressants are sometimes used to treat symptoms of depression in bipolar disorder. Fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and bupropion (Wellbutrin) are examples of antidepressants that may be prescribed to treat symptoms of bipolar depression.
However, taking only an antidepressant can increase your risk of switching to mania or hypomania, or of developing rapid-cycling symptoms. To prevent this switch, doctors usually require you to take a mood-stabilizing medication at the same time as an antidepressant.
What are the side effects of antidepressants?
Antidepressants can cause:

• Headache
• Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)
• Agitation (feeling jittery)
• Sexual problems, which can affect both men and women. These include reduced sex drive and problems having and enjoying sex.

Report any concerns about side effects to your doctor right away. You may need a change in the dose or a different medication. You should not stop taking a medication without talking to your doctor first. Suddenly stopping a medication may lead to "rebound" or worsening of bipolar disorder symptoms. Other uncomfortable or potentially dangerous withdrawal effects are also possible.
Some antidepressants are more likely to cause certain side effects than other types. Your doctor or pharmacist can answer questions about these medications. Any unusual reactions or side effects should be reported to a doctor immediately.
Should women who are pregnant or may become pregnant take medication for bipolar disorder?
Women with bipolar disorder who are pregnant or may become pregnant face special challenges. Mood stabilizing medications can harm a developing fetus or nursing infant. But stopping medications, either suddenly or gradually, greatly increases the risk that bipolar symptoms will recur during pregnancy.
Lithium is generally the preferred mood-stabilizing medication for pregnant women with bipolar disorder. However, lithium can lead to heart problems in the fetus. In addition, women need to know that most bipolar medications are passed on through breast milk. The FDA has also issued warnings about the potential risks associated with the use of antipsychotic medications during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or nursing, talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of all available treatments.
FDA Warning on Antidepressants
Antidepressants are safe and popular, but some studies have suggested that they may have unintentional effects on some people, especially in adolescents and young adults. The FDA warning says that patients of all ages taking antidepressants should be watched closely, especially during the first few weeks of treatment. Possible side effects to look for are depression that gets worse, suicidal thinking or behavior, or any unusual changes in behavior such as trouble sleeping, agitation, or withdrawal from normal social situations. For the latest information, see the FDA website .
Psychotherapy
When done in combination with medication, psychotherapy can be an effective treatment for bipolar disorder. It can provide support, education, and guidance to people with bipolar disorder and their families. Some psychotherapy treatments used to treat bipolar disorder include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps people with bipolar disorder learn to change harmful or negative thought patterns and behaviors.
• Family-focused therapy, which involves family members. It helps enhance family coping strategies, such as recognizing new episodes early and helping their loved one. This therapy also improves communication among family members, as well as problem-solving.
• Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, which helps people with bipolar disorder improve their relationships with others and manage their daily routines. Regular daily routines and sleep schedules may help protect against manic episodes.
• Psychoeducation, which teaches people with bipolar disorder about the illness and its treatment. Psychoeducation can help you recognize signs of an impending mood swing so you can seek treatment early, before a full-blown episode occurs. Usually done in a group, psychoeducation may also be helpful for family members and caregivers.

In a STEP-BD study on psychotherapies, researchers compared people in two groups. The first group was treated with collaborative care (three sessions of psychoeducation over 6 weeks). The second group was treated with medication and intensive psychotherapy (30 sessions over 9 months of CBT, interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, or family-focused therapy). Researchers found that the second group had fewer relapses, lower hospitalization rates, and were better able to stick with their treatment plans. They were also more likely to get well faster and stay well longer. Overall, more than half of the study participants recovered over the course of 1 year.
A licensed psychologist, social worker, or counselor typically provides psychotherapy. He or she should work with your psychiatrist to track your progress. The number, frequency, and type of sessions should be based on your individual treatment needs. As with medication, following the doctor's instructions for any psychotherapy will provide the greatest benefit.
Visit the NIMH website for more information on psychotherapy.
Other treatments
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)—For cases in which medication and psychotherapy do not work, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be useful. ECT, formerly known as "shock therapy," once had a bad reputation. But in recent years, it has greatly improved and can provide relief for people with severe bipolar disorder who have not been able to recover with other treatments.
Before ECT is administered, a patient takes a muscle relaxant and is put under brief anesthesia. He or she does not consciously feel the electrical impulse administered in ECT. On average, ECT treatments last from 30–90 seconds. People who have ECT usually recover after 5–15 minutes and are able to go home the same day.
Sometimes ECT is used for bipolar symptoms when other medical conditions, including pregnancy, make the use of medications too risky. ECT is a highly effective treatment for severely depressive, manic, or mixed episodes. But it is generally not used as a first-line treatment.
ECT may cause some short-term side effects, including confusion, disorientation, and memory loss. People with bipolar disorder should discuss possible benefits and risks of ECT with an experienced doctor.
Sleep Medications—People with bipolar disorder who have trouble sleeping usually sleep better after getting treatment for bipolar disorder. However, if sleeplessness does not improve, your doctor may suggest a change in medications. If the problems still continue, your doctor may prescribe sedatives or other sleep medications.
Herbal Supplements—In general, not much research has been conducted on herbal or natural supplements and how they may affect bipolar disorder. An herb called St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), often marketed as a natural antidepressant, may cause a switch to mania in some people with bipolar disorder. St. John's wort can also make other medications less effective, including some antidepressant and anticonvulsant medications. Scientists are also researching omega-3 fatty acids (most commonly found in fish oil) to measure their usefulness for long-term treatment of bipolar disorder. Study results have been mixed.
Be sure to tell your doctor about all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, or supplements you are taking. Certain medications and supplements taken together may cause unwanted or dangerous effects.
What research is NIMH doing to improve treatments for bipolar disorder?
Scientists are working to identify new targets for improving current medications or developing new treatments for bipolar disorder. In addition, NIMH researchers have made promising advances toward finding fast-acting medication treatment. In a small study of people with bipolar disorder whose symptoms had not responded to prior treatments, a single dose of ketamine—an anesthetic medication—significantly reduced symptoms of depression in as little as 40 minutes. These effects lasted about a week on average.
Ketamine itself is unlikely to become widely available as a treatment because it can cause serious side effects at high doses, such as hallucinations. However, scientists are working to understand how the drug works on the brain in an effort to develop treatments with fewer side effects and that act similarly to ketamine. Such medications could also be used for longer term management of symptoms.
In addition, NIMH is working to better understand bipolar disorder and other mental disorders by spearheading the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) Project, which is an ongoing effort to map our current understanding of the brain circuitry that is involved in behavioral and cognitive functioning. By essentially breaking down mental disorders into their component pieces—RDoC aims to add to the knowledge we have gained from more traditional research approaches that focus solely on understanding mental disorders based on symptoms. The hope is that by changing the way we approach mental disorders, RDoC will help us open the door to new targets of preventive and treatment interventions.

Living With

If you know someone who has bipolar disorder, it affects you too. The first and most important thing you can do is help him or her get the right diagnosis and treatment. You may need to make the appointment and go with him or her to see the doctor. Encourage your loved one to stay in treatment.
To help a friend or relative, you can:

• Offer emotional support, understanding, patience, and encouragement
• Learn about bipolar disorder so you can understand what your friend or relative is experiencing
• Talk to your friend or relative and listen carefully
• Listen to feelings your friend or relative expresses and be understanding about situations that may trigger bipolar symptoms
• Invite your friend or relative out for positive distractions, such as walks, outings, and other activities
• Remind your friend or relative that, with time and treatment, he or she can get better.

Never ignore comments from your friend or relative about harming himself or herself. Always report such comments to his or her therapist or doctor.
How can caregivers find support?
Like other serious illnesses, bipolar disorder can be difficult for spouses, family members, friends, and other caregivers. Relatives and friends often have to cope with the person's serious behavioral problems, such as wild spending sprees during mania, extreme withdrawal during depression, or poor work or school performance. These behaviors can have lasting consequences.
Caregivers usually take care of the medical needs of their loved ones. But caregivers have to deal with how this affects their own health as well. Caregivers' stress may lead to missed work or lost free time, strained relationships with people who may not understand the situation, and physical and mental exhaustion.
It can be very hard to cope with a loved one's bipolar symptoms. One study shows that if a caregiver is under a lot of stress, his or her loved one has more trouble following the treatment plan, which increases the chance for a major bipolar episode. If you are a caregiver of someone with bipolar disorder, it is important that you also make time to take care of yourself.
How can I help myself if I have bipolar disorder?
It may be very hard to take that first step to help yourself. It may take time, but you can get better with treatment. To help yourself:

• Talk to your doctor about treatment options and progress.
• Keep a regular routine, such as going to sleep at the same time every night and eating meals at the same time every day.
• Try hard to get enough sleep.
• Stay on your medication.
• Learn about warning signs signaling a shift into depression or mania.
• Expect your symptoms to improve gradually, not immediately.

Where can I go for help?
If you are unsure where to go for help, ask your family doctor. Others who can help are listed below.

• Mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, or mental health counselors
• Health maintenance organizations
• Community mental health centers
• Hospital psychiatry departments and outpatient clinics
• Mental health programs at universities or medical schools
• State hospital outpatient clinics
• Family services, social agencies, or clergy
• Peer support groups
• Private clinics and facilities
• Employee assistance programs
• Local medical and/or psychiatric societies.

You can also check the phone book under "mental health," "health," "social services," "hotlines," or "physicians" for phone numbers and addresses. An emergency room doctor can also provide temporary help and can tell you where and how to get further help.
What if I or someone I know is in crisis?
If you are thinking about harming yourself, or know someone who is, tell someone who can help immediately.

• Call your doctor.
• Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room to get immediate help or ask a friend or family member to help you do these things.
• Call the toll-free, 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255); TTY: 1-800-799-4TTY (4889) to talk to a trained counselor.

Make sure you or the suicidal person is not left alone.