As the name suggests, the illness has two poles: Depression and Mania. Bipolar Disorder is a condition which cause abnormal changes in the mood: from extreme elation to depression. This illness occurs in episodes and the patient may be relatively normal in the intervening period.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

• Mania: Characterized by elevated, expansive or irritable mood
• Inflated self esteem
• Decreased need for sleep
• More talkative than usual
• Overspending
• Increased involvement in activities that can have painful consequences

Symptoms in depressive phase

• Persistent sadness or irritability
• Decreased or increased sleep
• Decreased or increased appetite
• Decreased energy
• Loss of interest in activities considered pleasurable earlier
• Death wish or suicidal thoughts
• Guilty feeling

Management of Bipolar illness

The aim of treatment is to prevent episodes of depression or mania and reduce the severity and frequency of episodes. So many patients may require life long therapy with mood stabilizers, aiming to help patients be in better control of their illness and lead a normal life as far as possible.