What is bipolar disorder?

    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Bipolar disorder, which is also known as manic-depressive disorder, is a mental illness that causes extreme mood swings. These mood swings consist of emotional highs (manic or hypomanic episodes) and lows (depressive episodes). There are three main types of bipolar disorder: bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymic disorder. People with bipolar disorder often experience decreased quality of life and overall functioning. Among all mental illnesses, bipolar disorder has the highest suicide rate.[1][2][3]

    References

    1. ^Gonda X, Pompili M, Serafini G, Montebovi F, Campi S, Dome P, Duleba T, Girardi P, Rihmer ZSuicidal behavior in bipolar disorder: epidemiology, characteristics and major risk factorsJ Affect Disord.(2012 Dec 20)
    2. ^McIntyre RS, Berk M, Brietzke E, Goldstein BI, López-Jaramillo C, Kessing LV, Malhi GS, Nierenberg AA, Rosenblat JD, Majeed A, Vieta E, Vinberg M, Young AH, Mansur RBBipolar disorders.Lancet.(2020-12-05)
    3. ^Bipolar Disorder: MedlinePlus; Bethesda, MD: National Library of Medicine US, cited October 31, 2022