Learning About Bipolar
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...
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From Our Experts
Living Well with Bipolar Disorder: Learning Optimism
You may recall the 1966 film, "Born Free," based on the true story of Joy and George Adamson, who raised the orphaned lion cub Elsa to... Read more »
Bipolar Thought Deficits: What We Can Learn From Schizophrenia...
A few weeks ago, in the Ask feature here at BipolarConnect, Nathan wrote:"Is bipolar the same as schizophrenia? I know a person who has... Read more »
Frequently Asked Questions: Coexisting or Comorbid Conditions
What does comorbid mean? Co-Morbid conditions are when one or more conditions occur at the same time. Many individuals with ADHD... Read more »
What Clinicians Can Learn from their Patients
I arrived back home in rural southern California late Wednesday night. Two days before, on the opposite coast, I gave a grand rounds... Read more »
The Three Main Bipolar Diagnoses
The psychiatric definition of bipolar spectrum disorders becomes more and more complicated as researchers learn more, so let's just focus... Read more »
From Our Sources
How I learned to manage mania
Bipolar sufferer Laurel Lemke moved in and out of hospitals before she was finally diagnosed with the condition. And though her bipolar disorder will... Read more »
Tips for Raising a Child with Bipolar Disorder
My wife and I have 5 kids in various stages of growth, including a son who’s been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. When it comes to parenting, the... Read more »
How to Start a Bipolar Support Group
When I was in the middle of a deep depression six years ago, going to my local bipolar support group meetings was the best thing I did for myself. ... Read more »
Other Treatments for Bipolar Disorder
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
Bipolar disorder is a recurrent disease that can be unpredictable. It is treatable, however, and many patients go to have healthy and productive... Read more »
Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
PrognosisBipolar disorder can be severe and long-term, or it can be mild with infrequent episodes. Patients with the disease may experience symptoms... Read more »
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