Bipolar Disorder Introduction & Symptoms

Conditions & Diseases: Psychological & Mental Health

Bipolar Disorder

See Also:
Bipolar Disorder: Introduction & Symptoms
Bipolar Disorder Types
Bipolar Disorder: Treatment

Bipolar Disorder Introduction & Symptoms

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a psychological (mood) disorder characterized by dramatic mood swings between mania (a mental state when the person feels happy, full of energy and extremely active) and depression (a mental state when the person feels down, sad, has no energy and is incapable of being active and productive).

Every person experiences ups and downs over their life span. The difference between normal mood swings and bipolar mood swings is the severity level of the symptoms and their impact on the persons life. Bipolar disorder mood swings interfere with all the aspects of the persons life: social, personal, and work related. The persons has poor work or school performances, develops dysfunctional relationships with those that he or she comes in contact with, and may also plan to commit suicide. These mood swings can be frightening, disturbing, and distressful for the person that suffers from this disorder, for his or hers family, and those people that interact with the sick person.

Approximately 2.6 percent of the population or 5.7 million Americans suffer from bipolar depression, and this disorder is equally prevalent between men and women. It affects people from every social class, race, age group, and ethnic group.

Bipolar disorder usually develops in late adolescence or early adulthood and continues throughout live. There are cases when the disorder is diagnosed in children or elders. Bipolar disorder seems to run in the family. If one of the parents suffer from bipolar disorder, children have a higher risk to develop the disorder than general population.

A Mental Health Report of US Surgeon General has listed bipolar disorder as on of the 10 leading causes of disability in the USA together with unipolar depression, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder symptoms are divided in two main categories:
1. Symptoms of mania, include:
- Increased energy and activity,
- Restlessness,
- Excessively euphoric, good, or “high” mood,
- Extreme irritability,
- Increased talking
- Racing thoughts (flight of ideas),
- Distractibility and lack of concentration,
- Decreased need for sleep,
- Unrealistic beliefs in his/hers abilities,
- Poor judgment and impulsive behaviors,
- Increased sexual drive,
- Drugs’ abuse,
- Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior.

2. Symptoms of depression, include:
- Sad, anxious, or empty mood,
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, hopelessness, or pessimism,
- Lack or decreased interest or pleasure in almost all activities,
- Decreased energy and increased fatigue,
- Restlessness of irritability,
- Insomnia or hypersomnia,
- Changes in appetite accompanied by weight gain or loss,
- Chronic pains and aches that are not caused by physical injuries or illnesses,
- Suicide thoughts and even suicide attempts.

See Also:
Bipolar Disorder: Introduction & Symptoms
Bipolar Disorder Types
Bipolar Disorder: Treatment

Related:
Major Depression
Depression in Teenagers
Depression in the Elderly
Depression in Women
Depression in Men

Article by Alina Morrow
MS Psychology
Medical Writer
OmniMedicalSearch.com

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Page Last Modified:
09/07/2010