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Bipolar and Related Disorders
Bipolar disorder causes dramatic shifts in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to think clearly. People with this disorder experience extremely high and low moods, known as mania and depression. They may have distinct manic or depressed states, or they may have long periods without symptoms. A person with bipolar disorder can also experience mixed manic and depressive symptoms.
Bipolar disorders can be categorized into three types:
- Bipolar I disorder: Featuring severe episodes of mania that may require hospitalization and typically depressive episodes as well
- Bipolar II disorder: A pattern featuring episodes of hypomania (less severe than mania) and episodes of depression
- Cyclothymic disorder: Or cyclothymia pattern of depressive and hypomanic symptoms that aren't severe or long enough to qualify for a bipolar II disorder diagnosis
