Overview

Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that
causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and
lows (depression).

When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or
pleasure in most activities. When your mood shifts to mania or hypomania (less extreme
than mania), you may feel euphoric, full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood
swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior and the ability to think
clearly.

Episodes of mood swings may occur rarely or multiple times a year. While most people
will experience some emotional symptoms between episodes, some may not
experience any.

Although bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, you can manage your mood swings and
other symptoms by following a treatment plan. In most cases, bipolar disorder is treated
with medications and psychological counseling (psychotherapy)

Symptoms

There are several types of bipolar and related disorders. They may include mania or
hypomania and depression. Symptoms can cause unpredictable changes in mood and
behavior, resulting in significant distress and difficulty in life.

 Bipolar I disorder. You've had at least one manic episode that may be preceded
or followed by hypomanic or major depressive episodes. In some cases, mania
may trigger a break from reality (psychosis).

 Bipolar II disorder. You've had at least one major depressive episode and at

least one hypomanic episode, but you've never had a manic episode.

 Cyclothymic disorder. You've had at least two years — or one year in children

and teenagers — of many periods of hypomania symptoms and periods of
depressive symptoms (though less severe than major depression).
  Other types. These include, for example, bipolar and related disorders induced
by certain drugs or alcohol or due to a medical condition, such as Cushing's
disease, multiple sclerosis or stroke.

Bipolar II disorder is not a milder form of bipolar I disorder, but a separate diagnosis.
While the manic episodes of bipolar I disorder can be severe and dangerous, individuals
with bipolar II disorder can be depressed for longer periods, which can cause significant
impairment.

Although bipolar disorder can occur at any age, typically it's diagnosed in the teenage
years or early 20s. Symptoms can vary from person to person, and symptoms may vary
over time.

Mania and hypomania

Mania and hypomania are two distinct types of episodes, but they have the same
symptoms. Mania is more severe than hypomania and causes more noticeable
problems at work, school and social activities, as well as relationship difficulties. Mania
may also trigger a break from reality (psychosis) and require hospitalization.

Both a manic and a hypomanic episode include three or more of these symptoms:

 Abnormally upbeat, jumpy or wired

 Increased activity, energy or agitation

 Exaggerated sense of well-being and self-confidence (euphoria)

 Decreased need for sleep

 Unusual talkativeness

 Racing thoughts

 Distractibility

 Poor decision-making — for example, going on buying sprees, taking sexual

risks or making foolish investments

Major depressive episode

A major depressive episode includes symptoms that are severe enough to cause
noticeable difficulty in day-to-day activities, such as work, school, social activities or
relationships. An episode includes five or more of these symptoms:

 Depressed mood, such as feeling sad, empty, hopeless or tearful (in children and
teens, depressed mood can appear as irritability)

 Marked loss of interest or feeling no pleasure in all — or almost all — activities

 Significant weight loss when not dieting, weight gain, or decrease or increase in
appetite (in children, failure to gain weight as expected can be a sign of
depression)

 Either insomnia or sleeping too much

 Either restlessness or slowed behavior

 Fatigue or loss of energy

 Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt

 Decreased ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness

 Thinking about, planning or attempting suicide

Other features of bipolar disorder

Signs and symptoms of bipolar I and bipolar II disorders may include other features,
such as anxious distress, melancholy, psychosis or others. The timing of symptoms
may include diagnostic labels such as mixed or rapid cycling. In addition, bipolar
symptoms may occur during pregnancy or change with the seasons.

Symptoms in children and teens

Symptoms of bipolar disorder can be difficult to identify in children and teens. It's often
hard to tell whether these are normal ups and downs, the results of stress or trauma, or
signs of a mental health problem other than bipolar disorder.

Children and teens may have distinct major depressive or manic or hypomanic
episodes, but the pattern can vary from that of adults with bipolar disorder. And moods
can rapidly shift during episodes. Some children may have periods without mood
symptoms between episodes.

The most prominent signs of bipolar disorder in children and teenagers may include
severe mood swings that are different from their usual mood swings.

When to see a doctor

Despite the mood extremes, people with bipolar disorder often don't recognize how
much their emotional instability disrupts their lives and the lives of their loved ones and
don't get the treatment they need.

And if you're like some people with bipolar disorder, you may enjoy the feelings of
euphoria and cycles of being more productive. However, this euphoria is always
followed by an emotional crash that can leave you depressed, worn out — and perhaps
in financial, legal or relationship trouble.

If you have any symptoms of depression or mania, see your doctor or mental health
professional. Bipolar disorder doesn't get better on its own. Getting treatment from a
mental health professional with experience in bipolar disorder can help you get your
symptoms under control

Causes

The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, but several factors may be involved,
such as:

 Biological differences. People with bipolar disorder appear to have physical

changes in their brains. The significance of these changes is still uncertain but may
eventually help pinpoint causes.

 Genetics. Bipolar disorder is more common in people who have a first-degree

relative, such as a sibling or parent, with the condition. Researchers are trying to
find genes that may be involved in causing bipolar disorder.

Risk factors
Factors that may increase the risk of developing bipolar disorder or act as a trigger for
the first episode include:

 Having a first-degree relative, such as a parent or sibling, with bipolar disorder

 Periods of high stress, such as the death of a loved one or other traumatic event

 Drug or alcohol abuse

Complications

Left untreated, bipolar disorder can result in serious problems that affect every area of
your life, such as:

 Problems related to drug and alcohol use

 Suicide or suicide attempts

 Legal or financial problems

 Damaged relationships

 Poor work or school performance

Co-occurring conditions

If you have bipolar disorder, you may also have another health condition that needs to
be treated along with bipolar disorder. Some conditions can worsen bipolar disorder
symptoms or make treatment less successful. Examples include:

 Anxiety disorders

 Eating disorders

 Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

 Alcohol or drug problems

 Physical health problems, such as heart disease, thyroid problems, headaches or

obesity

Prevention
 There's no sure way to prevent bipolar disorder. However, getting treatment at the
earliest sign of a mental health disorder can help prevent bipolar disorder or other
mental health conditions from worsening.

If you've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, some strategies can help prevent minor
symptoms from becoming full-blown episodes of mania or depression:

 Pay attention to warning signs. Addressing symptoms early on can prevent

episodes from getting worse. You may have identified a pattern to your bipolar
episodes and what triggers them. Call your doctor if you feel you're falling into an
episode of depression or mania. Involve family members or friends in watching for
warning signs.

 Avoid drugs and alcohol. Using alcohol or recreational drugs can worsen your
symptoms and make them more likely to come back.

 Take your medications exactly as directed. You may be tempted to stop

treatment — but don't. Stopping your medication or reducing your dose on your
own may cause withdrawal effects or your symptoms may worsen or return.


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