Careers
Explore
Symptoms and Signs of Bipolar Disorder
People with bipolar disorder suffer mood swings. Mania and depression alternate. Mood swings may be very quick.
Manic Phase: May last from days to months
Symptoms of manic phase may include:
- Easily distracted
- Lack of sleep
- Poor judgment
- Temper tantrums
- Lack of self-control (binge eating, drug use, sex with multiple partners, spending sprees)
- Very elevated mood: Hyper active, very high self esteem
Depressive phase may involve:
- Low mood, sadness, lack of sleep
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Eating problems: loss of appetite and weight loss/ overeating and weight gain
- Fatigue or lack of energy
- Thoughts of death and suicide
- Loss of pleasure in social activities, those once enjoyed
Manic and depressive states may overlap.
References:
- Cecil Medicine, 23rd Ed.
- Harrison's PRINCIPLES OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, 17TH Edition
- Ketter TA (June 2010). "Diagnostic features, prevalence, and impact of bipolar disorder". J Clin Psychiatry 71 (6): e14.doi:10.4088/JCP.8125tx11c. PMID 20573324.
- Frederick K Goodwin and Kay R Jamison.Manic-Depressive IllnessChapter 7, "Epidemiology". Oxford University Press, 1990. ISBN 0-19-503934-3.
Do excess depression leads to bipolar disorder?