Learn about bipolar disorder, including symptoms, risk factors, treatment options and answers to your questions.
Bipolar disorder is a brain disorders that causes changes in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function. People with bipolar disorder experience intense emotional states that typically occur during distinct periods of days to weeks, called mood episodes. These mood episodes are categorized as manic/hypomanic (abnormally happy or irritable mood) or depressive (sad mood). People with bipolar disorder generally have periods of neutral mood as well. When treated, people with bipolar disorder can lead full and productive lives.
Bipolar disorder is a category that includes three different diagnoses: bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymic disorder.
Symptoms of Bipolar I Disorder
Manic Episode
A manic episode is a period of at least one week when a person is extremely high-spirited or irritable most of the day for most days, possesses more energy than usual, and experiences at least three of the following changes in behavior:
Decreased need for sleep (e.g., feeling energetic despite significantly less sleep than usual
Increased or faster speech
Uncontrollable racing thoughts or quickly changing ideas or topics when speaking
Distractibility
Increased activity (e.g., restlessness, working on several projects at once)
Hypomanic Episode
A hypomanic episode is characterized by less severe manic symptoms that need to last only four days in a row rather than a week. Hypomanic symptoms do not lead to the major problems in daily functioning that manic symptoms commonly cause.
Major Depressive Episode
A major depressive episode is a period of at least two weeks in which a person has at least five of the following symptoms (including at least one of the first two symptoms):
Intense sadness or despair
Loss of interest in activities the person once enjoyed
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Fatigue
Increased or decreased sleep
Increased or decreased appetite
Restlessness (e.g., pacing) or slowed speech or movement
Difficulty concentrating
Frequent thoughts of death or suicide
Treatment and Management
Bipolar disorder symptoms commonly improve with treatment. Medication is the cornerstone of bipolar disorder treatment, though talk therapy (psychotherapy) can help many patients learn about their illness and adhere to medications, preventing future mood episodes.
Bipolar II Disorder
A diagnosis of bipolar II disorder requires someone to have at least one major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode (see above). People return to their usual functioning between episodes. People with bipolar II disorder often first seek treatment as a result of their first depressive episode, since hypomanic episodes often feel pleasurable and can even increase performance at work or school.
People with bipolar II disorder frequently have other mental illnesses such as an anxiety disorder or substance use disorder, the latter of which can exacerbate symptoms of depression or hypomania.
Treatment
Treatments for bipolar II are similar to those for bipolar I: medication and psychotherapy.
Cyclothymic Disorder
Cyclothymic disorder is a milder form of bipolar disorder involving many “mood swings,” with hypomania and depressive symptoms that occur frequently.
Cyclothymic disorder symptoms include the following:
For at least two years, many periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms, but the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a hypomanic or depressive episodes.
Treatment
Treatment for the cyclothymic disorder can involve medication and talk therapy. For many people, talk therapy can help with the stresses of mood swings. Keeping a mood journal can be an effective way to observe patterns in mood fluctuation. People with cyclothymia may start and stop treatment over time.