Bipolar disorder:A mood disorder sometimes calledmanic-depressive illness ormanic-depressionthat characteristically involves cycles of depression and elation ormania. Sometimes the mood switches from high to low and back again are dramatic and rapid, but more often they are gradual and slow, and intervals of normal mood may occur between the high (manic) and low (depressive) phases of thecondition. The symptoms of both the depressive and manic cycles may be severe and often lead to impaired functioning.
Both phases of thediseaseare deleterious.Maniaaffects thinking, judgment, and social behaviorinways that may cause serious problems and embarrassment. For example, unwise business or financial decisions may be made when an individual is in a manic phase.Depressioncan alsoaffectthinking, judgment, and social behavior in ways that may cause grave problems. For example, it elevates the risk of suicide. About 5.7 million American adults, or about 2.6 percent of the population aged 18 and older, havebipolar disorder.
Althoughbipolar disorderoften worsens over time if untreated, most people with bipolar disorder can achieve stabilization of their mood swings and reduction of symptoms with proper treatment. Treatment usually consists of medications known as "mood stabilizers."
See also: Manic-depression.
