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History & Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder

by Matt Knouff

  • Overview

    Bipolar disorder is a condition characterized by periods of mania and depression. More than 10 million American adults suffer from bipolar disorder each year.
  • Bipolar disorder typically first strikes sufferers when they're in their early 20s.
 

  • History

    Mania and depression have been discussed since early history, including by Aretaeus of Cappadocia, who wrote about the connection between mania and depression. The term "bipolar disorder" was not officially accepted for diagnostic use until 1980, when it was added to the third edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.

  • Time Frame

    The average age for the first appearance of bipolar disorder is early 20s. Symptoms of bipolar disorder typically persist for a lifetime, especially if it is untreated.

  • Types

    Bipolar disorder is categorized into two major types: bipolar I and bipolar II. The distinction between the two is that bipolar I requires a history of a manic or mixed episode, and bipolar II requires a history of a hypomanic episode. A mixed episode is an episode that simultaneously meets the requirements for both a depressive and manic episode.

  • Mania and Hypomania

    A manic episode must last for at least one week and include symptoms of elevated mood and three of the following: increased self-esteem, reduced need for sleep, increase in talkativeness, racing thoughts, short attention span, an increase in goal-oriented activities and involvement in potentially harmful and pleasurable activities. A hypomanic episode requires the same symptoms, but the symptoms are less severe and last for a shorter period (four to seven days).

  • Depression

    A depressive episode must last for at least two weeks and include five of the following symptoms, one of which must be either depressed mood or reduced interest or pleasure: depressed mood, reduced pleasure from activities previously enjoyed, weight fluctuations, too little or too much sleep, lack of energy, an increase or decrease in physical movement, feelings of inappropriate guilt or worthlessness, poor concentration and thoughts or attempts of suicide.

  • Considerations

    Factors such as severity, frequency of episodes, the type of episode most recently experienced and whether or not psychosis exists are noted through the use of specifiers that are added to a diagnosis.

    References & Resources

       
       
     
     

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