Bipolar disorder

What is bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterised by a cyclical alternation between two extreme states:

• Depressive episodes: periods of deep sadness, lack of energy, loss of interest
• Episodes of hypomania or mania: periods of increased energy, expansive or irritable mood, impulsive behaviour

Unlike ordinary “mood swings”, the episodes of bipolar disorder last days, weeks or months, are out of proportion to the circumstances and significantly affect functioning.

Bipolar disorder affects about 1–2% of the population. It usually appears in late adolescence or early adulthood. The first episode is often depressive, so the correct diagnosis can be delayed by years or even decades, until the first hypomanic or manic episode.

Forms of bipolar disorder

Bipolar I disorder is the form with clear manic episodes: periods of at least one week with an expansive or irritable mood, markedly increased energy, impulsive behaviour, sometimes with psychotic symptoms (delusions, hallucinations). Manic episodes may require hospitalisation. They usually alternate with depressive episodes.

Bipolar II disorder is the form with hypomanic and depressive episodes. Hypomania is a milder form of mania: periods of a few days with increased energy, heightened productivity and intense sociability, without loss of contact with reality. It is harder to recognise as a disorder, because the person feels “good”, sometimes even better than usual. That is why bipolar II disorder often goes undiagnosed for a long time.

Cyclothymia is a milder variant, with chronic fluctuations between depressive and hypomanic symptoms that do not reach the threshold of a full episode.

When to see a specialist

A psychiatric assessment is worthwhile if:

• you have episodes of visibly elevated or irritable mood, with increased energy, lasting days or weeks
• you have periods when you sleep much less than usual and yet feel full of energy
• you have made impulsive decisions (spending, relationships, career changes) that you later regretted
• you have depressive episodes that alternate with periods of being “on a roll”
• you have been diagnosed with depression, but the treatment did not work as expected
• you have a family history of bipolar disorder
• family or friends have pointed out marked changes in your mood

Together with your doctor, you can get to know your own rhythm and keep your balance.

The first step

If you recognise yourself in what you’ve read, book a conversation with one of our specialists. Together, we’ll look at what’s going on and what your options are.

Services: Psychiatry · Psychotherapy
See our team and pricing.

This information is for educational purposes and does not replace a specialist consultation.