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What Is Rapid in Cycling Bipolar Disorder? Rapid cycling is a pattern of frequent, distinct episodes in bipolar disorder. In rapid cycling, a person with the disorder experiences four or more episodes of mania or depression in one year. It … Continue reading →

There are other mental disorders besides bipolar disorder, which can produce mood swings. For example, mood swings can be caused by general medical conditions or other physical illnesses that affect the body’s regulatory systems. Suspect medical conditions include various brain … Continue reading →

Recognizing the diversity of types and intensities of mood episodes, the DSM-IV-TR (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the book that describes mental health diagnoses) has subdivided the diagnosis of bipolar disorder into four basic categories, each defined … Continue reading →

Just as the manic aspect of bipolar disorder is associated with manic episodes, the depressive aspect of bipolar disorder is likewise associated with depressive episodes. The severe form of depressive episode is known as a Major Depressive Episode. Major depressive … Continue reading →

Not everyone who becomes manic experiences the full-blown syndrome of a manic episode. Hypomanic individuals show an expansive, energized and sometimes elated mood, with rapid thinking and pressured speaking in evidence. At a minimum (for the label hypomania to be … Continue reading →