Bipolar Disorder 

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    Bipolar Disorder generally includes alternating periods of extreme high and low moods.  These moods include some depressive symptoms and some  manic symptoms.  There may be periods of feeling "normal" in between.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder(APA, 2000)
Depressive symptoms include:
            *prolonged feelings of sadness or emptiness
            *diminished interest in activities you used to enjoy
            *significant weight loss or weight gain
            *difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
            *loss of energy
            *fatigue
            *feelings of worthlessness and guilt
            *difficulty concentrating
            *recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

Manic symptoms include:
            *abnormally elevated or irritable mood
            *inflated self-esteem
            *decreased need for sleep
            *being very talkative or feeling the need to talk a lot
            *racing thoughts and ideas, being easily distracted
            *increased goal-directed activity
            *excessive involvement in pleasurable activities with no concern for consequences

Diagnostic Criteria (APA, 2000)

     Bipolar disorder is diagnosed as either Bipolar I Disorder or Bipolar II Disorder.
Bipolar I is characterized by one or more Manic or Mixed Episodes (manic and depressive), usually accompanied by Major Depressive Episodes.  This means that symptoms must fit the criteria for a Manic Episode and are usually but not always followed by a Major Depressive Episode.
    Bipolar II is characterized by one or more Major Depressive Episodes accompanied by at least one Hypomanic Episode.  In Bipolar II Disorder one must have symptoms that fit the criteria for at least one Major Depressive Episode and must be followed by at least one episode of mania that does not have to fit the criteria for a full Manic episode.
    There is also Cyclothymic disorder, which includes at least 2 years of numerous periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms that do not meet criteria for Major Depressive Episode.  Also one must not be without these symptoms for longer than a two month period.
 

The Facts (APA, 2000)

    Approximately 1% of the world's population suffers from Bipolar Disorder.  This includes at least 2 million Americans at any given time.  It effects men and women at an equal amount.  The average onset for this disorder usually occurs between the ages of 18 and 22.  It is common that someone suffering from Bipolar Disorder is not accurately diagnosed so therefore is not accurately treated.  The majority of those that are properly treated can function well and have normal lives, but this is not the type of disorder that will one day just disappear.  There is no definite known cause of Bipolar Disorder and no cure, but it is thought that people may be genetically predisposed with a vulnerability to the disorder and stress or other environmental factors  may cause it to show up.

**You can find out more information on bipolar disorder here --> Bipolar Disorder