The severe mood fluctuations of bipolar or manic-depressive disorders have been around
            
             since the 16-century and affect little more than 2% of the population in both sexes, all
            
             races, and all parts of the world (Lee, Down is Not Out 9). Researchers think that the
            
             cause is genetic, but it is still unknown. The one fact of which we are painfully aware of
            
             is that bipolar disorder severely undermines its' victims ability to obtain and maintain
            
             social and occupational success (10) Because the symptoms of bipolar disorder are so
            
             debilitation, it is crucial that we search for possible treatments and cure (12).
            
             The characteristics of bipolar disorder are significant shifts in mood that go from
            
             Manic episodes to deep depressive episodes in an up and down trip that seemingly never
            
             ends (Greer, Depression Source Book 139). There are actually three types of bipolar
            
             disorder (5). In bipolar III disorder there is a family history of mania or hypomania in
            
             addition to the client experiencing depressive episodes (13) this category is not highly
            
             used but is worth noting. Bipolar II disorder is marked by hypomanic episodes that have
            
             not required hospitalization (29). Bipolar I disorder is the full-blown illness and is
            
             defined by the presence of manic episodes which require treatment, and usually
            
             hospitalization (23).
            
            
             Bipolar disorder can strike at any age but most commonly strikes at age 18 in
            
             Bell 2
            
            
            
            
             bipolar I; for bipolar II disorder, the age is 22 it has also been found that children can be
            
             seen with bipolar disorder early on (Lee 48) this is not very prevalent, and is only one in
            
             every 200 cases (Greer 93) This is thought to occur because many children with manic
            
             depression might have been misdiagnosed or just thought of as hyperactive and
            
             disruptive (Lee 81) The early symptoms of childhood bipolar disorder, distractibility,
            
             irritability, and hypera...