Symptoms of Bipolar DisorderSymptoms of the Depression Phase The symptoms of depression experienced in bipolar disorder are almost identical to those of major depression, the primary form of unipolar depressive disorder. They include:
Distinguishing Between Unipolar and Bipolar Depression. It is often difficult to differentiate between unipolar and bipolar depression, particularly in patients with bipolar II disorder. They may differ in the following ways:
Symptoms of the Acute Manic Phase The acute pure manic phase is always characterized by mood elevation, presented in the following ways:
The episode lasts for at least few days but, in some cases, the episode may last weeks or even months and may be severe enough to require hospitalization. Other symptoms must also be present to make a diagnosis. Some mental health professionals use the mnemonic device DIGFAST to identify them. In general, for a diagnosis of mania, a patient must have experienced either euphoria with three DIGFAST symptoms or irritability with four of these symptoms:
Some patients with bipolar I may experience psychotic symptoms, including thought disorders, hallucinations, and catatonia (a state in which the patient goes into a stupor for long periods, which may give way to short periods of extreme excitement). Hypomania. With hypomania the symptoms of mania are milder and of shorter duration (but they last at least 4 days). They do not affect social or work life as dramatically. Symptoms of Mixed States Mixed Mania State. Mixed mania (also called mixed episodes or dysphoric mania) are manic episodes that also have a depressive component. In such a state, mania is present to a significant degree, but depression is present most of the day and nearly every day. Such mixed symptoms occur for at least a week. Depressive Mixed State. Depressive mixed state is characterized by major depression as the primary emotional state with manic features (such as irritability, distractibility, and racing thoughts). Such patients may receive an inaccurate diagnosis of unipolar depression. |
Introduction
Table of Contents
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Risk Factors

Review Date: 12/26/2006
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical
School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital














