About Bipolar Mood Disorder

Bipolar mood disorder is the newest term for manic depression, and is characterized by severe mood swings that lead to suicidal thoughts, mania, irritability and depression. It is a severe chemical imbalance that causes physical and mental harm.

History

• According to Mental Health Matters, scientists recently changed manic depression's name to bipolar mood disorder to better reflect what it is. People previously mistook it as a depression disorder.

Cause

• Abnormal brain activity causes bipolar disorder. A traumatic event, stress, or genetics can trigger abnormal functioning of neurotransmitters in the brain.

Significance

• Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness. The risks include suicide, harm to others and self mutilation.

Types

• There are several types of bipolar mood disorder recognized by the scientific community, ranked by severity. It includes Cyclothymic, Bipolar I, Bipolar II, and Rapid Cycling Disorder.

Misconceptions

• People often mistake bipolar mood disorder for PMS, or teenagers simply acting out. Many people are not diagnosed until adulthood because of these misconceptions.