What Is Bipolar Disorder? Symptoms, Causes And Treatment - Forbes

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health condition characterized by severe mood swings that are significant enough to impair daily life. The disorder affects an estimated 5.7 million U.S. adults.

Once referred to as manic depression or manic depressive disorder, bipolar disorder causes episodes of mania (periods of elevated or irritable mood), hypomania and sometimes, depression. There are two types of bipolar disorder, bipolar 1 and bipolar 2, says Jasmine Kaur, M.D., a psychiatrist with Mindpath Health in San Jose, California. Here's a look at how the two types differ:

Bipolar 1: Individuals with bipolar 1 disorder have experienced at least one manic episode in their lifetime (that is not due to the effects of medication, substances or medical issues). Dr. Kaur defines a manic episode as a period of "either euphoric or highly irritable mood" that persists for at least seven days. During this time, an individual may also experience symptoms such as racing thoughts, decreased sleep needs and exhibiting high-risk behaviors, like sexual promiscuity and unrestrained spending, adds Dr. Kaur.

Sometimes, individuals with bipolar 1 experience manic episodes that involve paranoid or delusional thinking. While people with bipolar 1 disorder may also experience depressive episodes, the experience of depressive episodes is not required for diagnosis.

Bipolar 2: Individuals with bipolar 2 disorder have experienced at least one depressive episode and one hypomanic episode in their lifetime. Hypomanic episodes are similar to manic episodes, says Dr. Kaur, though they are less severe, have less impact on daily life and do not require hospitalization like manic episodes might, she notes.

Hypomanic symptoms have to last for four days to be diagnosed, and can also include irritable or expansive mood, but usually does not involve paranoid or delusional thinking. The depressive component of bipolar 2 is defined as a depressed mood for at least two weeks, and may include symptoms such as persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy, changes in appetite and sleep, insomnia and thoughts of suicide.

Connect With A Counselor

If you're in crisis or having suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or message its live online chat service for immediate support from a trained counselor. If you're in immediate danger, call 911.

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