Bipolar disorder causes shifts in mood and energy levels. Getting the right diagnosis, treatment, and support can help manage it. What is bipolar disorder ? Bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic-depressive illness or manic depression) is a lifelong mood disorder and mental health condition that causes intense shifts in mood, energy levels, thinking patterns and behavior. What is bipolar disorder ? Bipolar disorder , which used to be called manic depressive illness or manic depression , is a mental disorder characterized by wide mood swings from high (manic) to low (depressed). The expert view of bipolar disorder will continue to evolve, but it is now commonly divided into two subtypes ( bipolar I and bipolar II) based on the dividing line between mania and hypomania described above.Periods of high or irritable mood are called manic episodes. The person becomes ... Bipolar disorder refers to a group of mental health conditions characterized by sudden, dramatic changes in mood, energy, and behavior. Formerly known as manic depression, this condition causes mood episodes lasting days or weeks at a time and hinder day-to-day functioning, school or work ...
