Bipolar disorder (depressed)

Alternative names:

depressed phase of manic-depressive disorder

Definition:

A mood disorder characterized by mood swings from mania (exaggerated feeling of well-being) to depression with the current or most recent episode of illness characterized by depression (see also Bipolar affective disorder and bipolar disorder).

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Bipolar disorder results in pathological mood swings from mania to depression, with a tendency to recur and remit spontaneously. Either the manic or the depressive episodes can predominate and produce few mood swings, or the patterns of mood swings may be cyclic. In bipolar disorder (depressed), the depressed mood is the current or most recent phase of illness. The depressive phase is characterized by sluggishness (inertia), loss of self-esteem, withdrawal, sadness, with suicide being a risk. The manic phase is characterized by elation, hyperactivity, over-involvement in activities, inflated self-esteem, a tendency to be easily distracted, and little need for sleep. In either phase there is frequently a dependence on alcohol or substances of abuse. The disorder appears between the ages of 15 and 25 and affects men and women equally. The cause is unknown, but hereditary and psychological factors may play a role. The incidence is higher in relatives of people with bipolar disorders.