What is bipolar disorder

• A mental disorder characterized by episodes of mania and depression
  
  
• Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depressive disorder, manic depression or bipolar affective disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated mood clinically referred to as mania or, if ...
  
  
• A psychiatric diagnostic category, previously called manic depression, characterised by mood swings between great energy (manic) and clinical depression
  
  
• Also known as manic-depressive illness. This is a serious illness that causes shifts in a person's mood, energy and ability to function. ...
  
  
• (BP) A mood disorder in the DSM-IV which is characterised by dramatic highs (mania) and deep depression. Bipolar was called manic depression in the DSM-III-R. Researchers are studying a possible genetic connection between Bipolar and other Mood Disorders and autistic spectrum disorders.
  
  
• also known as manic-depression, this disorder is characterized by alternating periods of extreme moods. For example, a period of mania may be characterized by excessive energy, restlessness and/or irritability. 

• A form of depressive disease that characteristically involves cycles of depression and elation or mania. Sometimes the mood switches from high to low and back again are dramatic and rapid, but more often they are gradual and slow.
  
  
• A type of depression that means the person alternates between a normal mood, feeling very depressed and feeling very elated. ...
  
  
• at least one episode of a depressed or irritable mood and at least one period of a manic (persistently elevated) mood.
  
  
• Where the individual has episodes of mania (or hypomania) alone or with depressive episodes at other times. Can occur as mixed episodes and with varying degrees of intensity.
  
  
• Bi polar disorder - A co-occurring disorder resulting in unusually extreme highs and lows of an individual's mood.