Bipolar disorder is a
psychiatric condition defined as recurrent episodes of significant disturbance in
mood. These disturbances can occur on a
spectrum that ranges from debilitating
depression to unbridled
mania. Individuals suffering from bipolar disorder typically experience fluid states of
mania,
hypomania or what is referred to as a
mixed state in conjunction with
depressive episodes. These clinical states typically alternate with a normal range of mood. The disorder has been subdivided into
bipolar I, bipolar II and
cyclothymia, with both bipolar I and bipolar II potentially presenting with rapid cycling.
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Alternating moods of abnormal highs (mania) and lows (depression). Called bipolar disease because of the swings between these opposing poles in mood.