Bipolar Disorder, now less commonly known as manic-depression, is a diagnosis in psychiatry referring to episodes of mania (or hypomania or mixed states) alternating with clinical depression that typically recur and become more frequent over a significant period of time. A person with bipolar disorder tends to experience more extreme states of mood than others, which can change quickly or last for months. Mood patterns of this nature are associated with distress and disruption, and a relatively high risk of suicide. There have also been links to high functioning, notably regarding hypomania ('below mania') and creativity, high productivity, and self-expression.

There are currently four types of bipolar illness. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV-TR (DSM-IV-TR) details four categories of bipolar disorder, Bipolar I, Bipolar II, Cyclothymia, and Bipolar Disorder NOS (Not Otherwise Specified).

Bipolar I disorder requires one or more manic or mixed episodes. A depressive episode is not required for a diagnosis of Bipolar I disorder, although the overwhelming majority of people with Bipolar I suffer from them as well.

Bipolar II, the more common but by no means less severe type of the disorder, is usually characterized by one or more episodes of hypomania and one or more severe depressions. A diagnosis of bipolar II disorder requires only one hypomanic episode. This stipulation is used mainly to differentiate it from unipolar depression.

Cyclothymic Disorder requires the presence of numerous hypomanic episodes, intermingled with depressive episodes that do not meet full criteria or for major depressive episodes. The main idea here is that there is a low-grade cycling of mood which appears to the observer as a personality trait, but still interferes with functioning.

Bipolar Disorder NOS is diagnosed if an individual clearly seems to be suffering from some type of bipolar disorder but does not meet the criteria for one of the subtypes above.

Bipolar Disorder is commonly categorized as either Bipolar I (or Type I), where an individual experiences alternative phases of depression with full-blown mania, or Bipolar II (or Type II), in which the "highs" do not go beyond hypomania. The latter is much more difficult to diagnose, since the hypomanic episodes may simply appear as a period of successful high productivity.

The Depressive Phase
Signs and symptoms of the depressive phase of bipolar disorder include (but in no way are limited to): persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, guilt, anger, isolation and/or hopelessness, disturbances in sleep and appetite, fatigue and loss of interest in daily activities, problems concentrating, loneliness, self-loathing, apathy or indifference, depersonalization, loss of interest or a sudden increased interest in sexual activity, shyness or social anxiety, irritability, chronic pain (with or without a known cause), lack of motivation, and morbid/suicidal ideation.

The Mania Phase
Mania is characterized by a severely elevated mood and energy. Simply speaking, it is the complete opposite of clinical depression. The 'high' can be so intense it could potentially be dangerous. People who experience a manic state often describe themselves as feeling high and superior. Generally, mania also provokes racing thoughts and creative ideas. However, it also pushes sufferers into agitation and poor decisions. It can also lead to extreme frustration due to the fact that it often adds a false sense of success to people's lives. Classic symptoms of mania include fast, nonstop talking, pacing aimlessly, staring into space, irritability, and heavy interest in goal oriented activities. One with mania may complain of racing thoughts, hallucinations, music stuck in their head, and feelings of enlightenment.

The Hypomania Phase
Hypomania is generally a less destructive state than mania, and people in the hypomanic phase generally experience less of the symptoms of mania than those in a full-blown manic episode. People with hypomania can be seen as being energetic, euphoric, charismatic, confident, and overflowing with new ideas. However, irritability or aggression can also be associated with hypomania. Individuals experiencing hypomania are generally capable of normal or above-average participation in everyday activities, or experience a period of particular productivity or creativity.

The Mixed State
In the context of bipolar disorder, a mixed state is a condition during which symptoms of mania and clinical depression occur simultaneously. For example, agitation, anxiety, aggressiveness or belligerence, confusion, fatigue, impulsiveness, insomnia, irritability, morbid and/or suicidal ideation, panic, paranoia, persecutory delusions, pressured speech, racing thoughts, restlessness, and rage.

More than 2.3 million American adults, or about 1.2 percent of the population in a given year, have bipolar disorder. In most patients each manic, depressive or mixed state episode (especially early in the course of illness) are separated by well periods during which there are few to no symptoms. Bipolar disorder typically emerges in late adolescence or early adulthood.

Leading Depression Treatment Solutions
Antidepressant Medication Facts
60 Second Online Depression Test
Depression Facts and Statistics