Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental illness that causes people to have severe high and low moods. People who have this illness switch from feeling overly happy and joyful to feeling very sad, and vice versa. Because of the highs and the lows -- or two poles of mood -- the condition is referred to as "bipolar" disorder. In between episodes of mood swings, a person may experience normal moods.

The word "manic" describes the periods when the person feels overly excited and confident. These feelings can quickly turn to confusion, irritability, anger, and even rage. The word "depressive" describes the periods when the person feels very sad or depressed. Because the symptoms are similar, sometimes people with bipolar disorder are incorrectly diagnosed as having major depression.

Most individuals with bipolar disorder spend more time in depressed phases than in manic phases.

What Are the Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?

In bipolar disorder, the dramatic and rapidly changing mood swings from highs to lows do not follow a set pattern, and depression does not always follow manic phases. A person may also experience the same mood state several times before suddenly experiencing the opposite mood. Mood swings can happen over a period of weeks, months, and sometimes even years.

The severity of the depressive and manic phases can differ from person to person and in the same person at different times.

Symptoms of mania ("the highs"):

• Excessive happiness, hopefulness, and excitement
• Sudden changes from being joyful to being irritable, angry, and hostile
• Restlessness
• Rapid speech and poor concentration
• Increased energy and less need for sleep
• High sex drive
• Tendency to make grand and unattainable plans
• Tendency to show poor judgment, such as deciding to quit a job
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Increased impulsivity

Some people with bipolar disorder can become psychotic, seeing and hearing things that aren't there and holding false beliefs from which they cannot be swayed. In some instances they see themselves as having superhuman skills and powers, or think they are God-like.

During depressive periods ("the lows"), a person with bipolar disorder may experience:

• Sadness
• Loss of energy
• Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
• Loss of enjoyment from things that once were pleasurable
• Difficulty concentrating
• Uncontrollable crying
• Difficulty making decisions
• Irritability
• Increased need for sleep
• Insomnia
• A change in appetite causing weight loss or gain
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Attempting suicide

Who Gets Bipolar Disorder?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 2 million American adults have bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder usually begins in early adulthood, appearing before age 35. Children and adolescents, however, can develop this disease in more severe forms and often in combination with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Some studies have indicated that bipolar disorder is genetically inherited, occurring more commonly within families.