Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

The Signs of Manic Depression Mood Disorder

© Tami Port

The mixed moods of bi polar disorder., unknown artist

Destructive and extreme emotional changes? Mood swings that seem bipolar, or of two opposite extremes? Here are some of the clinical symptoms of this mood disorder.

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is classified as a psychological mood disorder. Those afflicted have an impaired ability to regulate their mood and are prone to episodes of both major depression and mania.

What Is Major Depression?

There are many types of depression. Many people experience some depression when they encounter significant disappointments or grief. Those with manic depression experience what is called major depression (a diagnostic contrast to the minor depression that everyone encounters at some point in life). Mental health professionals call the major depression of manic depressive patients bipolar depression.

Signs of major depression may include the presence of some of the following symptoms for a prolonged period of time, occurring every day or nearly every day:

What Is Mania?

In order to be diagnosed as bipolar, the DSM (the main diagnostic manual used by mental heath professionals) says that a person must have at least one manic episode not involving drug or alcohol abuse, medications or other medical disorder that may have caused the symptoms.

Being manic does not equate with just being in an especially great mood. Mania is an abnormally elevated mood that can include racing thoughts, fast or pressured speech, and irritability.

The following are possible symptoms of mania that are used in clinical diagnosis:

Each of the items on these lists, individually, are things that most people may commonly experience from time to time, even if they don’t have manic depression. To be diagnosed as bipolar, a patient must have several of these symptoms at the same time.

How Do Bipolar Patients Experience this Mood Disorder?

Some people with this disorder have substantial separate episodes of mania and depression throughout their lives. Some struggle more with bouts of depression. Some are more prone to manic episodes. And, although these moods may seem like diametric opposites, bipolar patients may also experience mania and depression at the same time. This is called a mixed episode.

Bipolar Information

For more information on manic depression see the psychology website Psychology Prof Online and the Mayo Clinic's Bipolar Disorder Information or look to other Suite 101 articles, including Mood Disorder Bipolar Medications and Antidepressants & Bipolar Disorder.

This article is only meant to provide information on the symptoms associated with bipolar disorder. It is not intended to be used for self-diagnosis. Only a trained mental-health professional can diagnose mental illnesses.

Additional Sources

Ramirez Basco, Monica (2006). The Bipolar Workbook: Tools for Controlling Your Mood Swings. Guilford Press.

Mondimore, Francis Mark (1999). Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients & Families. Johns Hopkins Press.


The copyright of the article Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder in Bipolar Disorder is owned by Tami Port. Permission to republish Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder must be granted by the author in writing.


The mixed moods of bi polar disorder., unknown artist
       


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