Bipolar disorder - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

Bipolar disorder causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). COVID-19:Advice,updatesandvaccineoptions FindoutaboutCOVID-19,COVID-19vaccines,andMayoClinicpatientandvisitorupdates. Skiptositenavigation SkiptoContent ThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion.ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion. SectionsforBipolardisorderSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departmentsCareatMayoClinic Print OverviewBipolardisorder,formerlycalledmanicdepression,isamentalhealthconditionthatcausesextrememoodswingsthatincludeemotionalhighs(maniaorhypomania)andlows(depression). Whenyoubecomedepressed,youmayfeelsadorhopelessandloseinterestorpleasureinmostactivities.Whenyourmoodshiftstomaniaorhypomania(lessextremethanmania),youmayfeeleuphoric,fullofenergyorunusuallyirritable.Thesemoodswingscanaffectsleep,energy,activity,judgment,behaviorandtheabilitytothinkclearly. Episodesofmoodswingsmayoccurrarelyormultipletimesayear.Whilemostpeoplewillexperiencesomeemotionalsymptomsbetweenepisodes,somemaynotexperienceany. Althoughbipolardisorderisalifelongcondition,youcanmanageyourmoodswingsandothersymptomsbyfollowingatreatmentplan.Inmostcases,bipolardisorderistreatedwithmedicationsandpsychologicalcounseling(psychotherapy). BipolardisordercareatMayoClinicProducts&ServicesBook:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEditionNewsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEditionShowmoreproductsfromMayoClinic SymptomsThereareseveraltypesofbipolarandrelateddisorders.Theymayincludemaniaorhypomaniaanddepression.Symptomscancauseunpredictablechangesinmoodandbehavior,resultinginsignificantdistressanddifficultyinlife. BipolarIdisorder.You'vehadatleastonemanicepisodethatmaybeprecededorfollowedbyhypomanicormajordepressiveepisodes.Insomecases,maniamaytriggerabreakfromreality(psychosis). BipolarIIdisorder.You'vehadatleastonemajordepressiveepisodeandatleastonehypomanicepisode,butyou'veneverhadamanicepisode. Cyclothymicdisorder.You'vehadatleasttwoyears—oroneyearinchildrenandteenagers—ofmanyperiodsofhypomaniasymptomsandperiodsofdepressivesymptoms(thoughlessseverethanmajordepression). Othertypes.Theseinclude,forexample,bipolarandrelateddisordersinducedbycertaindrugsoralcoholorduetoamedicalcondition,suchasCushing'sdisease,multiplesclerosisorstroke. BipolarIIdisorderisnotamilderformofbipolarIdisorder,butaseparatediagnosis.WhilethemanicepisodesofbipolarIdisordercanbesevereanddangerous,individualswithbipolarIIdisordercanbedepressedforlongerperiods,whichcancausesignificantimpairment. Althoughbipolardisordercanoccuratanyage,typicallyit'sdiagnosedintheteenageyearsorearly20s.Symptomscanvaryfrompersontoperson,andsymptomsmayvaryovertime. ManiaandhypomaniaManiaandhypomaniaaretwodistincttypesofepisodes,buttheyhavethesamesymptoms.Maniaismoreseverethanhypomaniaandcausesmorenoticeableproblemsatwork,schoolandsocialactivities,aswellasrelationshipdifficulties.Maniamayalsotriggerabreakfromreality(psychosis)andrequirehospitalization. Bothamanicandahypomanicepisodeincludethreeormoreofthesesymptoms: Abnormallyupbeat,jumpyorwired Increasedactivity,energyoragitation Exaggeratedsenseofwell-beingandself-confidence(euphoria) Decreasedneedforsleep Unusualtalkativeness Racingthoughts Distractibility Poordecision-making—forexample,goingonbuyingsprees,takingsexualrisksormakingfoolishinvestments MajordepressiveepisodeAmajordepressiveepisodeincludessymptomsthataresevereenoughtocausenoticeabledifficultyinday-to-dayactivities,suchaswork,school,socialactivitiesorrelationships.Anepisodeincludesfiveormoreofthesesymptoms: Depressedmood,suchasfeelingsad,empty,hopelessortearful(inchildrenandteens,depressedmoodcanappearasirritability) Markedlossofinterestorfeelingnopleasureinall—oralmostall—activities Significantweightlosswhennotdieting,weightgain,ordecreaseorincreaseinappetite(inchildren,failuretogainweightasexpectedcanbeasignofdepression) Eitherinsomniaorsleepingtoomuch Eitherrestlessnessorslowedbehavior Fatigueorlossofenergy Feelingsofworthlessnessorexcessiveorinappropriateguilt Decreasedabilitytothinkorconcentrate,orindecisiveness Thinkingabout,planningorattemptingsuicide OtherfeaturesofbipolardisorderSignsandsymptomsofbipolarIandbipolarIIdisordersmayincludeotherfeatures,suchasanxiousdistress,melancholy,psychosisorothers.Thetimingofsymptomsmayincludediagnosticlabelssuchasmixedorrapidcycling.Inaddition,bipolarsymptomsmayoccurduringpregnancyorchangewiththeseasons. SymptomsinchildrenandteensSymptomsofbipolardisordercanbedifficulttoidentifyinchildrenandteens.It'softenhardtotellwhetherthesearenormalupsanddowns,theresultsofstressortrauma,orsignsofamentalhealthproblemotherthanbipolardisorder. Childrenandteensmayhavedistinctmajordepressiveormanicorhypomanicepisodes,butthepatterncanvaryfromthatofadultswithbipolardisorder.Andmoodscanrapidlyshiftduringepisodes.Somechildrenmayhaveperiodswithoutmoodsymptomsbetweenepisodes. Themostprominentsignsofbipolardisorderinchildrenandteenagersmayincludeseveremoodswingsthataredifferentfromtheirusualmoodswings. WhentoseeadoctorDespitethemoodextremes,peoplewithbipolardisorderoftendon'trecognizehowmuchtheiremotionalinstabilitydisruptstheirlivesandthelivesoftheirlovedonesanddon'tgetthetreatmenttheyneed. Andifyou'relikesomepeoplewithbipolardisorder,youmayenjoythefeelingsofeuphoriaandcyclesofbeingmoreproductive.However,thiseuphoriaisalwaysfollowedbyanemotionalcrashthatcanleaveyoudepressed,wornout—andperhapsinfinancial,legalorrelationshiptrouble. Ifyouhaveanysymptomsofdepressionormania,seeyourdoctorormentalhealthprofessional.Bipolardisorderdoesn'tgetbetteronitsown.Gettingtreatmentfromamentalhealthprofessionalwithexperienceinbipolardisordercanhelpyougetyoursymptomsundercontrol. WhentogetemergencyhelpSuicidalthoughtsandbehaviorarecommonamongpeoplewithbipolardisorder.Ifyouhavethoughtsofhurtingyourself,call911oryourlocalemergencynumberimmediately,gotoanemergencyroom,orconfideinatrustedrelativeorfriend.Orcallasuicidehotlinenumber—intheUnitedStates,calltheNationalSuicidePreventionLifelineat1-800-273-TALK(1-800-273-8255). Ifyouhavealovedonewhoisindangerofsuicideorhasmadeasuicideattempt,makesuresomeonestayswiththatperson.Call911oryourlocalemergencynumberimmediately.Or,ifyouthinkyoucandososafely,takethepersontothenearesthospitalemergencyroom. RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic   Thereisaproblemwith informationsubmittedforthisrequest.Review/updatethe informationhighlightedbelowandresubmittheform. FromMayoClinictoyourinbox Signupforfree,andstayuptodateonresearchadvancements,healthtipsandcurrenthealthtopics,likeCOVID-19,plusexpertiseonmanaginghealth. Email ErrorEmailfieldisrequired ErrorIncludeavalidemailaddress LearnmoreaboutMayoClinic’suseofdata. Toprovideyouwiththemostrelevantandhelpfulinformation,andunderstandwhich informationisbeneficial,wemaycombineyouremailandwebsiteusageinformationwith otherinformationwehaveaboutyou.IfyouareaMayoClinicpatient,thiscould includeprotectedhealthinformation.Ifwecombinethisinformationwithyourprotected healthinformation,wewilltreatallofthatinformationasprotectedhealth informationandwillonlyuseordisclosethatinformationassetforthinournoticeof privacypractices.Youmayopt-outofemailcommunicationsatanytimebyclickingon theunsubscribelinkinthee-mail. Subscribe! Thankyouforsubscribing! You'llsoonstartreceivingthelatestMayoClinichealthinformationyourequestedinyourinbox. Sorrysomethingwentwrongwithyoursubscription Please,tryagaininacoupleofminutes Retry CausesTheexactcauseofbipolardisorderisunknown,butseveralfactorsmaybeinvolved,suchas: Biologicaldifferences.Peoplewithbipolardisorderappeartohavephysicalchangesintheirbrains.Thesignificanceofthesechangesisstilluncertainbutmayeventuallyhelppinpointcauses. Genetics.Bipolardisorderismorecommoninpeoplewhohaveafirst-degreerelative,suchasasiblingorparent,withthecondition.Researchersaretryingtofindgenesthatmaybeinvolvedincausingbipolardisorder. RiskfactorsFactorsthatmayincreasetheriskofdevelopingbipolardisorderoractasatriggerforthefirstepisodeinclude: Havingafirst-degreerelative,suchasaparentorsibling,withbipolardisorder Periodsofhighstress,suchasthedeathofalovedoneorothertraumaticevent Drugoralcoholabuse ComplicationsLeftuntreated,bipolardisordercanresultinseriousproblemsthataffecteveryareaofyourlife,suchas: Problemsrelatedtodrugandalcoholuse Suicideorsuicideattempts Legalorfinancialproblems Damagedrelationships Poorworkorschoolperformance Co-occurringconditionsIfyouhavebipolardisorder,youmayalsohaveanotherhealthconditionthatneedstobetreatedalongwithbipolardisorder.Someconditionscanworsenbipolardisordersymptomsormaketreatmentlesssuccessful.Examplesinclude: Anxietydisorders Eatingdisorders Attention-deficit/hyperactivitydisorder(ADHD) Alcoholordrugproblems Physicalhealthproblems,suchasheartdisease,thyroidproblems,headachesorobesity MoreInformationBipolardisordercareatMayoClinicBipolardisorderandalcoholism:Aretheyrelated? PreventionThere'snosurewaytopreventbipolardisorder.However,gettingtreatmentattheearliestsignofamentalhealthdisordercanhelppreventbipolardisorderorothermentalhealthconditionsfromworsening. Ifyou'vebeendiagnosedwithbipolardisorder,somestrategiescanhelppreventminorsymptomsfrombecomingfull-blownepisodesofmaniaordepression: Payattentiontowarningsigns.Addressingsymptomsearlyoncanpreventepisodesfromgettingworse.Youmayhaveidentifiedapatterntoyourbipolarepisodesandwhattriggersthem.Callyourdoctorifyoufeelyou'refallingintoanepisodeofdepressionormania.Involvefamilymembersorfriendsinwatchingforwarningsigns. Avoiddrugsandalcohol.Usingalcoholorrecreationaldrugscanworsenyoursymptomsandmakethemmorelikelytocomeback. Takeyourmedicationsexactlyasdirected.Youmaybetemptedtostoptreatment—butdon't.Stoppingyourmedicationorreducingyourdoseonyourownmaycausewithdrawaleffectsoryoursymptomsmayworsenorreturn. ByMayoClinicStaff BipolardisordercareatMayoClinic RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic Diagnosis&treatment Feb.16,2021 Print Shareon:FacebookTwitter Showreferences Reilly-HarringtonNAetal.Atooltopredictsuicidalideationandbehaviorinbipolardisorder:TheConciseHealthRiskTrackingSelf-Report.JournalofAffectiveDisorders.2016;192:212. Bipolarandrelateddisorders.In:DiagnosticandStatisticalManualofMentalDisordersDSM-5.5thed.Arlington,Va.:AmericanPsychiatricAssociation;2013.http://www.psychiatryonline.org.AccessedDec.2,2016. Bipolardisorder.NationalInstituteofMentalHealth.https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml.AccessedDec.2,2016. Bipolardisorder.NationalInstituteofMentalHealth.https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder-tr-15-3679/index.shtml.AccessedDec.2,2016. Bipolardisorderinchildrenandteens.NationalInstituteofMentalHealth.https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder-in-children-and-teens-qf-15-6380/index.shtml.AccessedDec.2,2016. 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PostRM.Bipolardisorderinadults:Choosingmaintenancetreatment.http://www.uptodate.com/home.AccessedJan.4,2016. JanicakPG.Bipolardisorderinadultsandlithium:Pharmacology,administration,andsideeffects.http://www.uptodate.com/home.AccessedJan.4,2017. StovallJ.Bipolardisorderinadults:Pharmacotherapyforacutemaniaandhypomania.http://www.uptodate.com/home.AccessedJan.4,2017. Related Bipolardisorderandalcoholism:Aretheyrelated? Bipolarinchildren Bipolarmedicationsandweightgain Bipolartreatment:Ivs.II Showmorerelatedcontent AssociatedProcedures Cognitivebehavioraltherapy Electroconvulsivetherapy(ECT) Familytherapy Psychotherapy Transcranialmagneticstimulation Urinalysis Showmoreassociatedprocedures Products&Services Book:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEdition Newsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEdition ShowmoreproductsandservicesfromMayoClinic MayoClinicinRochester,Minnesota,hasbeenrecognizedasoneofthetopPsychiatryhospitalsinthenationfor2022-2023byU.S.News&WorldReport. 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