Bipolar Disorder

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bipolardisorder.html

Also called: Also called: Manic-depressive illness

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness. People who have it experience dramatic mood swings. They may go from overly energetic, "high" and/or irritable, to sad and hopeless, and then back again. They often have normal moods in between. The up feeling is called mania. The down feeling is depression.

Bipolar disorder can run in families. It usually starts in late adolescence or early adulthood. If you think you may have it, tell your health care provider. A medical checkup can rule out other illnesses that might cause your mood changes.

Untreated, bipolar disorder can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. However, there are effective treatments: medicines and "talk therapy". A combination usually works best.

National Institute of Mental Health
Start Here

    * Bipolar Disorder(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/mentalhealth/depression/625.printerview.html
      Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/mentalhealth/depression/625.printerview.html
    * NewBipolar DisorderEasy-to-ReadFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder-easy-to-read.shtml
      Also available in Spanish http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/spanish/una-historia-personal-sobre-el-trastorno-bipolar-enfermedad-manaco-depresiva.pdf
    * Bipolar DisorderFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/complete-publication.shtml

Overviews

    * Bipolar Disorder(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/bipolar-disorder/DS00356/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
    * NewJAMA Patient Page: Bipolar Disorder(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/301/5/564.pdf
      Also available in Spanish http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/data/301/5/564/DC1/1

Latest News

    * NewSchizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Share Genetic RootsFrom the National Institutes of Health(07/01/2009, National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jul2009/nimh-01.htm
    * Bipolar Patients Often Relapse(05/18/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_84429.html
    * Risperdal Consta Approved for Bipolar Disorder(05/18/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_84400.html

Diagnosis/Symptoms

    * Bipolar Disorder across the Lifespan(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_bipolar_lifespan
    * Dual Diagnosis and Recovery(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_dualdiag
      Also available in Spanish http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/ddspanish.pdf
    * Signs and Symptoms of Mood Disorders(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Signs_symptoms

Treatment

    * Anticonvulsants Drugs(Consumers Union of U.S.) - http://www.consumerreports.org/health/best-buy-drugs/anticonvulsants.htm
      Also available in Spanish http://www.consumerreports.org/health/resources/pdf/best-buy-drugs/Anticonvulsants-2pager-Spanish-FINAL.pdf
    * Antipsychotic Drugs(Consumers Union of U.S.) - http://www.consumerreports.org/health/best-buy-drugs/antipsychotics.htm
      Also available in Spanish http://www.consumerreports.org/health/resources/pdf/best-buy-drugs/Antipsychs-SpanishFINAL.pdf
    * Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/electroconvulsive-therapy/MY00129/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
    * Finding Peace of Mind: Treatment Strategies for Bipolar Disorder(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_fpom
    * Getting the Treatment You Need(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_depression_treatmentmain
    * MedicationsFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/medications/complete-publication.shtml
    * Psychotherapy: How It Works and How It Can Help(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_psychotherapy
    * Understanding Hospitalization for Mental Health(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_hospital

Nutrition

    * Food and Mood(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Links to PDF - http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/foodmoode2.pdf

Coping

    * Bipolar Personal Calendar(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=empower_personalcalendar
    * Wellness at Work(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Large PDF file - http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/work.pdf

Disease Management

    * Healthy Lifestyles: Improving and Maintaining the Quality of Your Life(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_healthy
    * Next Steps: Getting the Treatment You Need to Reach Real Recovery(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Large PDF file - http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/NextSteps.pdf
    * Recovery Steps(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=recoverysteps
    * Saying No to Negative Thinking(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Links to PDF - http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/negthinkb.pdf
    * Working toward Wellness(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Large PDF file - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_wellnesswkbk
    * You've Just Been Diagnosed...(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_justdiag

Specific Conditions

    * Bipolar Disorder: Rapid Cycling and Its Treatment(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Large PDF file - http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/rapidcycling.pdf
    * Cyclothymia(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/cyclothymia/DS00729/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
    * Mania (Unipolar Disorder)(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/print/sec07/ch101/ch101c.html
    * Types of Bipolar Disorder(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_bipolar_types

Related Issues

    * Bipolar Disorder and African Americans(Mental Health America) - http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectId=C7DF8995-1372-4D20-C85ABFB47A928F11
    * Bipolar Disorder and Alcoholism: Are They Related?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/bipolar-disorder/AN00920/METHOD=print
    * Finding a Mental Health Professional: A Personal Guide(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Links to PDF - http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/finding.pdf
    * Getting Better Sleep: What You Need to Know(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_sleepless
    * Helping a Friend or Family Member with Depression or Bipolar Disorder(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Links to PDF - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_helping
    * Mental Health Providers: Find One to Suit Your Needs(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mental-health/MH00008/METHOD=print
    * Mood Disorders and Other Illnesses(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_mooddisorders
    * Psychiatric Hospitalization: A Guide for Families(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_publications_familyhospital
    * Understanding Suicidal Thinking(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Large PDF file - http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/suicidefinalweb04.pdf
    * What Is Bipolar Disorder? A Guide to Hope and Recovery for African Americans(Mental Health America) - Large PDF file - http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/bipolar-disorder/-what-is-bipolar-disorder-a-guide-to-hope-and-recovery-for-african-americans

Health Check Tools

    * Mental Health Screening Center(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_screening_screeningcenter

Clinical Trials

    * ClinicalTrials.gov: Bipolar DisorderFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Bipolar+Disorder%22
    * ClinicalTrials.gov: Mood Disorders(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Mood+Disorders%22
    * Clinical Trials(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=research_ClinicalTrialsMain

Research

    * Family-Focused Therapy Effective in Treating Depressive Episodes of Bipolar YouthFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/family-focused-therapy-effective-in-treating-depressive-episodes-of-bipolar-youth.shtml
    * Largest Study to Date on Pediatric Bipolar Disorder Describes Disease Characteristics and Short-Term OutcomesFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2006/largest-study-to-date-on-pediatric-bipolar-disorder-describes-disease-characteristics-and-short-term-outcomes.shtml
    * Potential New Target Found for Developing Medications to Treat Bipolar DisorderFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/potential-new-target-found-for-developing-medications-to-treat-bipolar-disorder.shtml
    * NewSymptoms Persist As Bipolar Children Grow UpFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/symptoms-persist-as-bipolar-children-grow-up.shtml

Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

    * Article: Nonverbal social behaviors of patients with bipolar mania during interactions... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19525741&tool=MedlinePlus
    * Article: Comorbidity and its impact in adult patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder:... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19491543&tool=MedlinePlus
    * Article: Summer evening on the beach at Skagen: the artist and... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19487621&tool=MedlinePlus
    * Bipolar Disorder -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=bipolar+disorder[majr]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Directories

    * Find a Mental Health Professional(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=empower_professional_referral
    * Find a Support Group in Your Community(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=support_supportgroups
    * Mental Health Services Locator(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/

Organizations

    * Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance - http://www.dbsalliance.org/
    * Mental Health America - http://www.nmha.org/
    * NAMI - http://www.nami.org/
      Also available in Spanish http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/NAMI_en_español/NAMI_en_español.htm
    * National Institute of Mental HealthFrom the National Institutes of Health - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/

Law and Policy

    * Legal Issues of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder(Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation) - http://www.bpkids.org/site/PageServer?pagename=lrn_index_4

Statistics

    * Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in AmericaFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america.shtml

Children

    * Bipolar Disorder(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/learning_problem/bipolar_disorder.html
    * Bipolar Disorder in Children and TeensEasy-to-ReadFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder-in-children-and-teens-easy-to-read.shtml
    * NewBipolar Disorder in Children and Teens: A Parent's GuideFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder-in-children-and-teens-a-parents-guide/index.shtml
    * Education Issues of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder(Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation) - http://www.bpkids.org/site/PageServer?pagename=lrn_default
    * Helping Children and Youth with Bipolar Disorder: Systems of Care(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/sma05-4058/
    * Storm in My Brain: Kids and Mood Disorders (Bipolar Disorder and Depression)(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Large PDF file - http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/storm.pdf

Teenagers

    * Bipolar Disorder(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/bipolar.html
    * NewBipolar Disorder in Children and Teens: A Parent's GuideFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder-in-children-and-teens-a-parents-guide/index.shtml
    * Is It Just a Mood or Something Else?(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Links to PDF - http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/mood.pdf

Women

    * Managing Pregnancy and Bipolar Disorder(NAMI) - http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Research/Managing_Pregnancy_and_Bipolar_Disorder.htm

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

    * Depression - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/depression.html
    * Mental Health and Behavior - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mentalhealthandbehavior.html

The primary NIH organization for research on Bipolar Disorder is the National Institute of Mental Health - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/

Bipolar Disorder - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/bipolardisorder.html

Date last updated: July 01 2009
Topic last reviewed: February 17 2009