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What is Bipolar Disorder?

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What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar Disorder (previously known as Manic Depressive Reaction and Manic Depressive Illness) is a mood disorder characterized by a long-term episodic cyclical course of extreme fluctuations in mood resulting in significant impairment in social, interpersonal and occupational functioning. The results of repeated extreme fluctuations in mood can be devastating. Bipolar Disorder is a serious illness that requires psychiatric and psychological treatment. Untreated individuals with bipolar disorder have a significantly higher lifetime rate of attempted and completed suicide.

The most severe form of the disorder, Bipolar I Disorder, is characterized by one or more Manic or Mixed (Manic and Depressed) episodes of sufficient severity to cause marked impairment in social and occupational functioning often resulting in a psychiatric hospitalization.

Typically, individuals with Bipolar I disorder experience extreme fluctuations in mood ranging from severe Depression to Mania. During Manic Episodes people experience elevated or irritable moods in which they may become highly energized, have an inflated sense of self-esteem, experience a reduced need for sleep, become very talkative, have racing thoughts, may take on multiple projects at once and become easily distracted.

People in a more severe state of mania may lose their normal sense of judgment and may undertake risky behaviors with the potential for painful negative consequences. In the most severe stages of Mania individuals will become disorganized in their behavior and thought processes. These behaviors and thought processes may appear bizarre to others and they may experience strange or unusual ideas.

People with Bipolar Disorder also experience significant periods of depression in which they may experience depressed mood and loss of interest or pleasure as well as the following symptoms: significant weight loss or decrease or increase in appetite, sleeping too much or too little, being agitated or slowed down or feeling fatigued. During depressed periods individuals often report feelings of worthlessness, excessive or inappropriate guilt, diminished ability to think or concentrate, indecisiveness, or suicidal thoughts or plans.

Careful assessment before prescribing medication is important because people with Bipolar Disorder experience significant periods of depression as well as distinct periods of elevated mood. About 60% of people who present initially with mainly depressive symptoms may go on to experience a manic or hypomanic episode. People who receive an anti-depressant medication may experience a medication induced manic or hypomanic Episode.

Bipolar II Disorder is characterized by one or more major depressive episodes with at least one Hypomanic Episode in which the patient’s functioning is not compromised severely enough to cause marked impairment in social or occupational functioning. Bipolar II Disorder, while by definition not involving an episode of severe mania, has a high risk of suicide and is often associated with a severe depressive course just as devastating as that experienced in Bipolar I disorder.