What is the definition of bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is defined as an episodic illness characterized by distinct mood changes. Learn more the changes in this video with HealthMaker Ellen Leibenluft, MD, chief of bipolar spectrum disorders at the National Institute of Mental Health.

Transcript

00:00

[MUSIC PLAYING] And an episode, so in bipolar disorder, it would be either mania or depression. And during an episode, your mood is different from usual.

00:17

Bipolar disorder is defined as-- it's what's called an episodic illness, which means that people have distinct episodes of a mood change.

00:29

And an episode, so in bipolar disorder, it would be either mania or depression. And during an episode, your mood is different from usual.

00:40

So in mania, you'd be euphoric. You might be somewhat irritable. But it's different than what you are usually.

00:49

And at the same time that you have that change in mood, you also have change in your activity level.

00:56

You're much more active. Your sleep patterns-- you don't need very much sleep.

01:03

You talk very fast. You think very fast. The episode means that your mood changes. And at the same time, a lot of other stuff changes, too.

01:12

On the other side, you have the depression, of course, where you feel sad. Nothing is enjoyable.

01:19

And again, you have sleep changes. Your thoughts change, the nature of them and the speed of them.

01:26

Your eating patterns change. So bipolar disorder is defined by having these episodes

01:33

of these different mood states. [AUDIO LOGO]