About Bipolar Disorder
1% of the population suffer from Bipolar disorder, a severe mental illness that involves extreme highs and lows for the person affected. The condition can make it difficult for them to lead an ordinary life.
This information comes from the National Information and Advice Service's Bipolar disorder factsheet
Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is a severe mood disorder (sometimes known as an affective disorder). It causes unusual shifts in a person's mood characterised by either an extreme high (mania) or extreme low (depression) often with periods of normal mood in between.
Of course everybody experiences changes in mood, but the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe, potentially resulting in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance and even suicide.
Bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives.
Who is at risk of bipolar?
Approximately 1% of the population age 18 and above in a given year has bipolar disorder. Bipolar typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood and there is a small increase in mid to late life .
The symptoms are often not recognised as an illness and people may suffer for years before it is properly diagnosed and treated.
The cycle of the illness can vary widely from person to person. For some people, there will be a number of episodes at a particular point in their life, and they may not experience further episodes. Other people may experience frequent episodes throughout their life.
Types of bipolar disorder
There are two main types of bipolar (I and II) as well as other less common types.
Bipolar I disorder
This is the classic form of the illness which involves recurrent episodes of mania and depression but is mainly characterised by the manic episodes. Generally this manic period is followed by a period of depression, although some bipolar I individuals may not experience a major depressive episode.
Bipolar II disorder
This is when there are longer lasting major depressive episodes alternating with episodes of hypomania (where someone is mildly manic or 'high'). The manic episode is therefore less disruptive and tends to constitute low-level, non-psychotic symptoms of mania, such as increased energy or a more elated mood than usual. It may not affect an individual's ability to function on a day to day basis.
Cyclothymic disorder
If depressive and manic symptoms last for two years and do not meet the full criteria for a major depressive or a manic episode then a diagnosis of cyclothymia may be given, which is a less severe form of bipolar affective disorder. Cyclothymic disorder is diagnosed over the course of two years and is characterised by frequent short periods of hypomania and depressive symptoms separated by periods of stability .
Rapid cycling bipolar
This diagnosis may be given when an individual's mood fluctuates rapidly from depression to hypomania or mania with little or no period of stability in between. Rapid cycling bipolar is diagnosed when four or more episodes occur in a given year meeting the criteria for major depressive, manic, mixed or hypomanic episodes. Some people with rapid cycling bipolar can experience monthly, weekly or even daily shifts between mania and depression (sometimes called ultra rapid cycling).
Mixed bipolar state
In some people the symptoms of mania and depression may occur at the same time in what is called a mixed bipolar state. Symptoms of a mixed state often include agitation, trouble sleeping, change in appetite, psychosis and suicidal thinking. A person may have a very sad, hopeless mood while at the same time feeling extremely energised.
The information in this section is taken from the NIAS factsheet, which you can download in pdf format and print for individual use (external link to Mental Health Shop):
Bipolar disorder (manic depression) factsheet
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