Bipolar Mood Disorder
Bipolar affective disorder
Definition:Bipolar affective disorder is a mood disorder characterized by mood swings from mania (exaggerated feeling of well-being, stimulation, and grandiosity in which a person can lose touch with reality) to depression (overwhelming feelings of sadness, anxiety, and low self-worth, which can include suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts).
Alternative Names:Bipolar disorder; Manic depressive illness
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:The disorder...
Read moreMore information on "Bipolar Mood Disorder"
From Our Experts
Managing Bipolar Disorder: How to Chart Your Mood
Many people with bipolar want to know more about their moods. This may stem from general interest, or they may have been encouraged to... Read more »
Live From the Road: Toto, We're Not in Southern California Anymore
I am on the last leg of my flight from San Diego. Sometime earlier, I had boarded the Red-eye Special to Charlotte, where I connected with... Read more »
Bipolar and the Self-Medication Issue
This is the third installment in our series on the bipolar-drug/alcohol abuse double-whammy that goes by the two names of dual diagnosis... Read more »
Schizoaffective: The Thinking Connection
This is the fourth in our series on schizoaffective disorder. The discussion so far has focused on psychosis and it’s... Read more »
Irritability: One More Time from the Other Side
The other day, I got blasted by a consumer who read me a litany of things DBSA had done wrong over the past four years. Four years is a... Read more »
From Our Sources
Q&A: Do Mood Swings Equal Bipolar Disorder?
A woman whose spouse and children say she is "moody" and may have bipolar disorder asks experts if she has this condition and should seek treatment... Read more »
Postpartum Mood Swings Do Not Affect Bipolar Disorder: Study
Spanish researchers say the changing moods many mothers experience after giving birth have no influence on the course or prognosis of bipolar... Read more »
Bipolar Disorder Risk Factors
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
CausesDoctors do not know what causes bipolar disorder, but it is likely a combination of biochemical, genetic, and environmental... Read more »
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
