Bipolar disorder (previously known as manic depression) is a psychiatric diagnostic category describing a class of mood disorders in which the person experiences clinical depression and/or mania, hypomania, and/or mixed states. ~ The disorder can cause great distress among those afflicted and those living with them. ~ Left untreated, bipolar disorder can be a disabling condition, with a high risk of death through suicide.The difference between bipolar disorder and unipolar disorder (also called major depression) is that bipolar disorder involves both elevated and depressive mood states. ~ The duration and intensity of mood states varies widely among people with the illness. ~ Fluctuating from one mood state to the next is called "cycling". ~ Mood swings can cause impairment or improved functioning depending on their direction (up or down) and severity (mild to severe). ~ There can be changes in one's energy level, sleep pattern, activity level, social rhythms and cognitive functioning. ~ Some people may have difficulty functioning during these times.
Contents
* 1 Domains of the bipolar spectrum
o 1.1 Bipolar depression
o 1.2 Mania
o 1.3 Hypomania
o 1.4 Mixed state
o 1.5 Cycling
o 1.6 Cognition
* 2 Suicide risk
* 3 Diagnosis
o 3.1 Diagnostic criteria
o 3.2 Misdiagnosis
o 3.3 Treatment lag
o 3.4 Children
* 4 Treatment
o 4.1 Prognosis and the goals of long-term treatment
* 5 Relapse
* 6 Research findings
o 6.1 Heritability or inheritance
o 6.2 Genetic research
* 7 Ongoing research
o 7.1 Medical imaging
o 7.2 Personality types or traits
o 7.3 New treatments
* 8 Causes (Etiology)
* 9 Personal descriptions
* 10 History of bipolar disorder
* 11 Epidemiology
* 12 Bipolar disorder and creativity
* 13 References
* 14 Further reading
* 15 See also
* 16 External links
