The label ‘Bipolar Disorder’ tends to cause unnecessary alarm and fear in the general community. The man or woman in the street tends to regard such a diagnosis as dramatically more severe than the seemingly straightforward diagnosis of Major Depression. This assumption is incorrect. Many cases of Major Depression are just as debilitating and dangerous (or more so) than many cases of Bipolar Disorder.

Put simply, the Bipolar Disorders refer to the group of conditions in which the individual’s mood, when disturbed, is not exclusively ‘down’ or depressed. In other words, the Bipolar Disorders cover individuals who experience some elevation in mood, or mood cycling (from low to high). The various Bipolar Disorders are summarized below.

BIPOLAR I

The essential feature of Bipolar I is one or more Manic Episodes, or Mixed Episodes (see Mania). Often, individuals with Bipolar I will have also had one or more Major Depressive Episodes, although this is not necessary.

BIPOLAR II

The essential feature of Bipolar II is one or more Major Depressive Episodes with at least one Hypomanic Episode (see Mania).

CYCLOTHYMIC DISORDER

The essential feature of Cyclothymic Disorder is a chronic (at least two years), fluctuating mood disturbance involving periods of depressive symptoms and periods of manic symptoms that are never severe enough to have warranted the labels Major Depressive Episode or Hypomanic Episode.