Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a severe mental illness involving episodes of serious mania and depression. A person suffering from bipolar disorder experiences wide mood swings with periods of normal mood in between. Manic episodes are characterized by heightened energy, sharpened and unusually creative thinking, irritability and self-confidence – alternated with depressive episodes, characterized by low energy, sadness, and hopelessness.

Although the causes of bipolar disorder are unknown, current research is focused on understanding the genetic basis of chemical imbalances in the brain that contribute to the illness.

Bipolar disorder is one of the most treatable psychiatric disorders. Crucial to treating bipolar disorder, is recognizing the symptoms and making the correct diagnosis. In recent years there has been considerable clarification of the criteria for diagnosing bipolar disorder. Symptoms of bipolar disorder include...

Patients suffering from manic episodes of bipolar disorder occasionally experience psychotic symptoms, including delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, agitation, lack of drive or initiative, social withdrawal and apathy. It is estimated that the suicide rate among untreated individuals with bipolar disorders is 15 percent.

An estimated 2 million Americans suffer from manic depressive illness, which typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood and continues throughout a person's life. Often not recognized as an illness, bipolar disorder tends to run in families. If left untreated, manic depressive illness tends to worsen and the person may experience episodes of full-fledged mania and clinical depression.

Medication and psychotherapy are essential to the treatment of bipolar disorder. Lithium, carbamazepine, and valproate are effective treatments for reducing the severity of manic episodes and in preventing depression. Psychotic features associated with bipolar disorder may respond to treatment with antipsychotic medications.