Symptoms of Bipolar disorder
Symptoms of Bipolar disorder
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources
for Bipolar disorder includes the 57
symptoms listed below:
- Mood swings
- Cycles of symptoms
- Mania - and its symptoms:
- Depression - and its various symptoms:
- Mixed manic and depressive symptoms
- Psychosis
- People with rapid cycling bipolar disorder have the symptoms of bipolar disorder:
- At least one episode of mania in their lifetime.
- Episodes of depression
- Symptoms of the depressive phase of bipolar disorder include persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, guilt, anger, isolation, or hopelessness; disturbances in sleep and appetite; fatigue and loss of interest in usually enjoyable activities; problems concentrating; loneliness, self-loathing, apathy or indifference
- Mania is generally characterized by a distinct period of an elevated, expansive, or irritable mood state. People commonly experience an increase in energy and a decreased need for sleep. A person's speech may be pressured, with thoughts experienced as racing. Attention span is low and a person in a manic state may be easily distracted. Judgment may become impaired
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Research symptoms & diagnosis of Bipolar disorder:
Bipolar disorder: Complications
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Bipolar disorder Symptoms: Book Excerpts
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Do I have Bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder: Medical Mistakes
Bipolar disorder: Undiagnosed Conditions
Diseases that may be commonly undiagnosed in related medical areas:
Home Diagnostic Testing
Home medical tests related to Bipolar disorder:
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Wrongly Diagnosed with Bipolar disorder?
The list of other diseases or medical conditions
that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses
for Bipolar disorder includes:
See the full list of 43
alternative diagnoses for Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder: Research Doctors & Specialists
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More about symptoms of Bipolar disorder:
More information about symptoms of Bipolar disorder and related conditions:
Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms
Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list
of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions,
or drug side effect causes of that symptom.
Medical Books Online about Bipolar disorder
Medical Books Excerpts
Excerpts of published medical book chapters related to Bipolar disorder
are available from published medical books
for more detailed information about Bipolar disorder.
Medical Books Excerpts
- DEPRESSION
- "Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs" (2003)
- [ read ]
- Depression
- "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)" (2006)
- [ read ]
- Depression
- "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)" (2006)
- [ read ]
- Depression
- "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter" (2000)
- [ read ]
Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
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for more information about the symptoms of Bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorders:
Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Signs and symptoms vary widely, depending on whether the patient is experiencing a manic or a depressive episode.
During the assessment interview, the manic patient typically appears grandiose, euphoric, expansive, or irritable with little control over his activities and responses. He may describe hyperactive or excessive behavior, including elaborate plans for numerous social events, efforts to renew old acquaintances by telephoning friends at all hours of the night, buying sprees, or promiscuous sexual activity. He seldom hesitates to start projects for which he has little aptitude.
The patient’s activities may have a bizarre quality, such as dressing in colorful or strange garments, wearing excessive makeup, or giving advice to passing strangers. He commonly expresses an inflated sense of self-esteem, ranging from uncritical self-confidence to marked grandiosity, which may be delusional.
Note the patient’s speech patterns and concentration level. Accelerated and pressured speech, frequent changes of topic, and flight of ideas are common features of the manic phase. The patient is easily distracted and responds rapidly to external stimuli, such as background noise or a ringing telephone.
Physical examination of the manic patient may reveal signs of malnutrition and poor personal hygiene. He may report sleeping and eating less as well as being more physically active than usual.
Hypomania, more common than acute mania, can be recognized during the assessment interview by three classic symptoms: euphoric but unstable mood, pressured speech, and increased motor activity. The hypomanic patient may appear elated, hyperactive, easily distracted, talkative, irritable, impatient, impulsive, and full of energy but seldom exhibits flight of ideas. Delusions and other symptoms of psychotic intensity are never present.
The patient who experiences a depressive episode may report a loss of self-esteem, overwhelming inertia, social withdrawal, and feelings of hopelessness, apathy, or self-reproach. He may believe that he’s wicked and deserves to be punished. His growing sadness, guilt, negativity, and fatigue place extraordinary burdens on his family.
During the assessment interview, the depressed patient may speak and respond slowly. He may complain of difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly but is usually not obviously disoriented or intellectually impaired.
Physical examination may reveal reduced psychomotor activity, lethargy, low muscle tonus, weight loss, slowed gait, and constipation. The patient may also report sleep disturbances (falling asleep, staying asleep, or early morning awakening), sexual dysfunction, headaches, chest pains, and a heaviness in the limbs. Typically, symptoms are worse in the morning and gradually subside as the day goes on.
His concerns about his health may become hypochondriacal: He may worry excessively about having cancer or some other serious illness. In an elderly patient, physical symptoms may be the only clues to depression.
Suicide is an ever-present risk, especially as the depression begins to lift. At that point, a rising energy level may strengthen the patient’s resolve to carry out suicidal plans.
The suicidal patient may also harbor homicidal ideas — for example, thinking of killing his family either in anger or to spare them pain and disgrace.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Major depression:
Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
The primary features of major depression are a predominantly sad mood and a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities. The patient may complain of feeling “down in the dumps,” express doubts about his self-worth or ability to cope, or simply appear unhappy and apathetic. He may also report feeling angry or anxious. Symptoms tend to be more severe than those caused by dysthymic disorder, which is a milder, chronic form of depression. (See Dysthymic disorder, page 456.) Other common signs include difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly, distractibility, and indecisiveness. All physiologic and psychologic processes are slowed. Anergia and fatigue are common as are anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure) and insomnia. Take special note if the patient reveals suicidal thoughts, a preoccupation with death, or previous suicide attempts.
The psychosocial history may reveal life problems or losses that can account for the depression. Alternatively, the patient’s medical history may implicate a physical disorder or the use of prescription, nonprescription, or illegal drugs that can cause depression.
The patient may report an increase or a decrease in appetite, sleep disturbances (for example, insomnia or early awakening), a lack of interest in sexual activity, constipation, or diarrhea. Other signs that you may note during a physical examination include agitation (such as hand wringing or restlessness) and reduced psychomotor activity (for example, slowed speech).
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Bipolar disorders:
Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)
Signs and symptoms vary widely, depending on whether the patient is experiencing a manic or a depressive episode.
Manic features
The manic patient typically appears euphoric, expansive, or irritable with little control over his activities and responses. He may describe hyperactive or excessive behavior, including elaborate plans for numerous social events, efforts to renew old acquaintances by telephoning friends at all hours of the night, buying sprees, or promiscuous sexual activity. He seldom hesitates to start projects for which he has little aptitude.
The patient’s activities may have a bizarre quality, such as dressing in colorful or strange garments, wearing excessive makeup, or giving advice to passing strangers. He often expresses an inflated sense of self-esteem, ranging from uncritical self-confidence to marked grandiosity, which may be delusional. Common features of the manic phase are accelerated speech, frequent changes of topic, and flight of ideas. The patient is easily distracted and responds rapidly to external stimuli, such as background noise or a ringing telephone.
Physical examination of the manic patient may reveal signs of malnutrition and poor personal hygiene. He may report sleeping and eating less than usual.
Hypomania can be recognized during the assessment interview by three classic symptoms: elated but unstable mood, pressured speech, and increased motor activity. The hypomanic patient may appear elated, hyperactive, easily distracted, talkative, irritable, impatient, impulsive, and full of energy but seldom exhibits flight of ideas, delusions, or an absence of discretion and self-control.
Depressive features
The patient who experiences a depressive episode may report a loss of self-esteem, overwhelming inertia, social withdrawal, and feelings of hopelessness, apathy, or self-reproach. He may believe that he’s wicked and deserves to be punished. His growing sadness, guilt, negativity, and fatigue place extraordinary burdens on his family.
During the assessment interview, the depressed patient may speak and respond slowly. He may complain of difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly but usually isn’t obviously disoriented or intellectually impaired.
Physical examination may reveal reduced psychomotor activity, lethargy, low muscle tonus, weight loss, slowed gait, and constipation. The patient also may report sleep disturbances (falling asleep, staying asleep, or awakening in the early morning), sexual dysfunction, headaches, chest pains, and a heaviness in the limbs. Typically, symptoms are worse in the morning and gradually subside as the day goes on.
His concerns about his health may become hypochondriacal: He may worry excessively about having cancer or some other serious illness. In an elderly patient, physical symptoms may be the only clues to depression.
Suicide is an ever-present risk, especially as the depression begins to lift. At that point, a rising energy level may strengthen the patient’s resolve to carry out suicidal plans.
The suicidal patient may also harbor homicidal ideas, for example, thinking of killing his family either in anger or to spare them pain and disgrace.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Depression, major:
Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)
The primary features of major depression are a predominantly sad mood and a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities. Symptoms tend to be more severe than those caused by dysthymic disorder, which is a milder, chronic form of depression. (See Dysthymic disorder: A chronic affective disorder.)
The depressive patient may complain of feeling “down in the dumps,” express doubts about his self-worth or ability to cope, or simply appear unhappy and apathetic. He may also report feeling angry or anxious.
Other common signs include difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly, distractibility, and indecisiveness. Take special note if the patient reveals suicidal thoughts, a preoccupation with death, or previous suicide attempts.
The psychosocial history may reveal life problems or losses that can account for the depression. Alternatively, the patient’s medical history may implicate a physical disorder or the use of prescription, nonprescription, or illegal drugs that can cause depression.
The patient may report an increase or a decrease in appetite, sleep disturbances (for example, insomnia or early awakening), a lack of interest in sexual activity, constipation, or diarrhea. Other signs that you may note during a physical examination include agitation (such as hand wringing or restlessness) and reduced psychomotor activity (for example, slowed speech).
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Bipolar disorder:
Going to Extremes Bipolar Disorder: NIMH (Excerpt)
Cycles, or episodes, of depression, mania, or "mixed" manic and depressive
symptoms typically recur and may become more frequent, often disrupting
work, school, family, and social life.
Depression: Symptoms include a persistent sad mood; loss of
interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed; significant
change in appetite or body weight; difficulty sleeping or oversleeping;
physical slowing or agitation; loss of energy; feelings of worthlessness
or inappropriate guilt; difficulty thinking or concentrating; and
recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.
Mania: Abnormally and persistently elevated (high) mood or
irritability accompanied by at least three of the following symptoms:
overly-inflated self-esteem; decreased need for sleep; increased
talkativeness; racing thoughts; distractibility; increased goal-directed
activity such as shopping; physical agitation; and excessive involvement
in risky behaviors or activities.
"Mixed" state: Symptoms of mania and depression are present at
the same time. The symptom picture frequently includes agitation, trouble
sleeping, significant change in appetite, psychosis, and suicidal
thinking. Depressed mood accompanies manic activation.
Especially early in the course of illness, the episodes may be
separated by periods of wellness during which a person suffers few to no
symptoms. When 4 or more episodes of illness occur within a 12-month
period, the person is said to have bipolar disorder with rapid
cycling. Bipolar disorder is often complicated by co-occurring alcohol
or substance abuse. 4
Severe depression or mania may be accompanied by symptoms of
psychosis. These symptoms include: hallucinations (hearing, seeing,
or otherwise sensing the presence of stimuli that are not there) and
delusions (false personal beliefs that are not subject to reason or
contradictory evidence and are not explained by a person's cultural
concepts). Psychotic symptoms associated with bipolar typically reflect
the extreme mood state at the time. (Source: excerpt from Going to Extremes Bipolar Disorder: NIMH)
Let's Talk About Depression: NIMH (Excerpt)
When You're Depressed...
- You feel sad or cry a lot and it doesn't go away.
- You feel guilty for no reason; you feel like you're no good; you've
lost your confidence.
- Life seems meaningless or like nothing good is ever going to happen
again. You have a negative attitude a lot of the time, or it seems like
you have no feelings.
- You don't feel like doing a lot of the things you used to like -
like music, sports, being with friends, going out - and you want to be
left alone most of the time.
- It's hard to make up your mind. You forget lots of things, and it's
hard to concentrate.
- You get irritated often. Little things make you lose your temper;
you over-react.
- Your sleep pattern changes; you start sleeping a lot more or you
have trouble falling asleep at night. Or you wake up really early most
mornings and can't get back to sleep.
- Your eating pattern changes; you've lost your appetite or you eat a
lot more.
- You feel restless and tired most of the time.
- You think about death, or feel like you're dying, or have thoughts
about committing suicide.
When You're Manic...
- You feel high as a kite...like you're "on top of the world."
- You get unreal ideas about the great things you can do...things that
you really can't do.
- Thoughts go racing through your head, you jump from one subject to
another, and you talk a lot.
- You're a non-stop party, constantly running around.
- You do too many wild or risky things: with driving, with spending
money, with sex, etc.
- You're so "up" that you don't need much sleep.
- You're rebellious or irritable and can't get along at home or
school, or with your friends.
(Source: excerpt from
Let's Talk About Depression: NIMH)
Bipolar Disorder: NIMH (Excerpt)
Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings—from overly "high" and/or
irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of
normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior go along
with these changes in mood. The periods of highs and lows are called
episodes of mania and depression.
Signs and symptoms of mania (or a manic episode)
include:
- Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
- Excessively "high," overly good, euphoric mood
- Extreme irritability
- Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to
another
- Distractibility, can't concentrate well
- Little sleep needed
- Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers
- Poor judgment
- Spending sprees
- A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual
- Increased sexual drive
- Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping
medications
- Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
- Denial that anything is wrong
A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with 3 or more of
the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or
longer. If the mood is irritable, 4 additional symptoms must be
present.
Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive
episode) include:
- Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood
- Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including
sex
- Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being "slowed down"
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
- Restlessness or irritability
- Sleeping too much, or can't sleep
- Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain
- Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused
by physical illness or injury
- Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
A depressive episode is diagnosed if 5 or more of these symptoms last
most of the day, nearly every day, for a period of 2 weeks or longer.
A mild to moderate level of mania is called hypomania. Hypomania
may feel good to the person who experiences it and may even be associated
with good functioning and enhanced productivity. Thus even when family and
friends learn to recognize the mood swings as possible bipolar disorder,
the person may deny that anything is wrong. Without proper treatment,
however, hypomania can become severe mania in some people or can switch
into depression.
Sometimes, severe episodes of mania or depression include symptoms of
psychosis (or psychotic symptoms). Common psychotic symptoms are
hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or otherwise sensing the presence of
things not actually there) and delusions (false, strongly held beliefs not
influenced by logical reasoning or explained by a person's usual cultural
concepts). Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder tend to reflect the
extreme mood state at the time. For example, delusions of grandiosity,
such as believing one is the President or has special powers or wealth,
may occur during mania; delusions of guilt or worthlessness, such as
believing that one is ruined and penniless or has committed some terrible
crime, may appear during depression. People with bipolar disorder who have
these symptoms are sometimes incorrectly diagnosed as having
schizophrenia, another severe mental illness.
It may be helpful to think of the various mood states in bipolar
disorder as a spectrum or continuous range. At one end is severe
depression, above which is moderate depression and then mild low mood,
which many people call "the blues" when it is short-lived but is termed
"dysthymia" when it is chronic. Then there is normal or balanced mood,
above which comes hypomania (mild to moderate mania), and then severe
mania.
In some people, however, symptoms of mania and depression may occur
together in what is called a mixed bipolar state. Symptoms of a
mixed state often include agitation, trouble sleeping, significant change
in appetite, psychosis, and suicidal thinking. A person may have a very
sad, hopeless mood while at the same time feeling extremely energized. (Source: excerpt from Bipolar Disorder: NIMH)
Bipolar Disorder: NIMH (Excerpt)
Descriptions offered by people with bipolar disorder give valuable
insights into the various mood states associated with the illness:
Depression: I doubt completely my ability to do anything
well. It seems as though my mind has slowed down and burned out to the
point of being virtually useless…. [I am] haunt[ed]… with the total, the
desperate hopelessness of it all…. Others say, "It's only temporary, it
will pass, you will get over it," but of course they haven't any idea of
how I feel, although they are certain they do. If I can't feel, move,
think or care, then what on earth is the point?
Hypomania:At first when I'm high, it's tremendous… ideas are
fast… like shooting stars you follow until brighter ones appear…. All
shyness disappears, the right words and gestures are suddenly there…
uninteresting people, things become intensely interesting. Sensuality is
pervasive, the desire to seduce and be seduced is irresistible. Your
marrow is infused with unbelievable feelings of ease, power, well-being,
omnipotence, euphoria… you can do anything… but, somewhere this
changes.
Mania: The fast ideas become too fast and there are far too
many… overwhelming confusion replaces clarity… you stop keeping up with
it—memory goes. Infectious humor ceases to amuse. Your friends become
frightened…. everything is now against the grain… you are irritable,
angry, frightened, uncontrollable, and trapped.
(Source: excerpt from Bipolar Disorder: NIMH)
Bipolar Disorder Research at the National Institute of Mental Health: NIMH (Excerpt)
When the illness begins before or soon after puberty, it is often
characterized by a continuous, rapid-cycling, irritable, and mixed symptom
state that may co-occur with disruptive behavior disorders, particularly
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or conduct disorder (CD),
or may have features of these disorders as initial symptoms. In contrast,
later adolescent- or adult-onset bipolar disorder tends to begin suddenly,
often with a classic manic episode, and to have a more episodic pattern
with relatively stable periods between episodes. There is also less
co-occurring ADHD or CD among those with later onset illness.
(Source: excerpt from Bipolar Disorder Research at the National Institute of Mental Health: NIMH)
Depression Research: NIMH (Excerpt)
Bipolar disorder (or manic-depressive illness) is
characterized by episodes of major depression as well as episodes of mania
– periods of abnormally and persistently elevated mood or irritability
accompanied by at least three of the following symptoms: overly-inflated
self-esteem; decreased need for sleep; increased talkativeness; racing
thoughts; distractibility; increased goal-directed activity or physical
agitation; and excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a
high potential for painful consequences. While sharing some of the
features of major depression, bipolar disorder is a different illness that
is discussed in detail in a separate NIMH publication.
(Source: excerpt from Depression Research: NIMH)
Medications: NIMH (Excerpt)
When people are in a manic "high," they may be overactive, overly
talkative, have a great deal of energy, and have much less need for sleep
than normal. They may switch quickly from one topic to another, as if they
cannot get their thoughts out fast enough. Their attention span is often
short, and they can be easily distracted. Sometimes people who are "high"
are irritable or angry and have false or inflated ideas about their
position or importance in the world. They may be very elated, and full of
grand schemes that might range from business deals to romantic sprees.
Often, they show poor judgment in these ventures. Mania, untreated, may
worsen to a psychotic state. (Source: excerpt from Medications: NIMH)
Bipolar disorder as a Cause of Symptoms or Medical Conditions
When considering symptoms of Bipolar disorder, it is also important to consider Bipolar disorder as a possible cause of other medical conditions.
The Disease Database lists the following medical conditions that Bipolar disorder may cause:
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Bipolar disorder: Onset and Incubation
Onset of Bipolar disorder: Most people are in their late teens or early 20s when symptoms first start. Nearly everyone with bipolar II disorder develops it before age 50
Medical articles and books on symptoms:
These general reference articles may be of interest
in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:
Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis
About signs and symptoms of Bipolar disorder:
The symptom information on this page
attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Bipolar disorder.
This signs and symptoms information for Bipolar disorder has been gathered from various sources,
may not be fully accurate,
and may not be the full list of Bipolar disorder signs or Bipolar disorder symptoms.
Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Bipolar disorder may vary on an individual basis for each patient.
Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they
are indeed Bipolar disorder symptoms.
Major depression is more than just suffering from a bad mood. It can affect just about everything you do, from how you sleep at night to how well you...
How do you know if your bad mood represents something more serious? Learn how to recognize the various types of depression, and what you can do to...
How do you know if you have depression? Learn what's involved in diagnosing the problem, and if your depression is the result of a biological...
Many people with epilepsy also experience depression. What can you do?
See full list of 7 related videos
» Next page: Diagnostic Tests for Bipolar disorder
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