Bipolar Disorder

It is essentially a disorder of mood where there are episodes of abnormal change of overall mood accompanied by change in the level of activity. The mood may swing between low mood ( Depression ) and elevated mood ( Mania).

Mania:

A manic episode consists of-

• Elevated or irritable mood
• Increased energy level leading to overactivity
• Increased speech output
• Decreased need for sleep
• Loss of normal social inhibitions
• Increased distractibility
• Inflated self esteem
• Making extravagant and impractical plans
• Grandiosity
• This should last for at least 1 week and causes socio occupational disruption.

Depression:

Feeling low / sad / depressed

• Loss of interest in previously pleasurable activities or unable to enjoy anything
• Decreased energy level, decreased motivation
• Weeping very easily / frequently and increase in the level of sensitivity
• Frequently getting irritated or having anger outbursts
• Negative self image and self confidence
• Feeling guilty
• Decrease in the ability to concentrate
• Disturbance 0in sleep – inability to fall asleep/ multiple breaks in sleep/ waking up much earlier than ones wake up time/ feeling unrefreshed even after sleeping through the night/ sleeping much more than usual
• Disturbance in appetite – not feeling hungry leading to decrease food intake which may lead to significant weight loss / occasionally increase in appetite

If these symptoms are present for most of the time for at least 2 weeks.