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Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder, or Manic Depression, is characterized by extreme mood swings. These mood swings include feelings of extreme happiness, elation and energy (mania) followed by times of extreme emotional sadness and depression. Patients diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder may suffer symptoms in a variety of combinations. The combinations have been broken down into three phases:
- Manic Phase
- Depressive Phase
- Mixed Phase
(both depressive and manic symptoms present at the same time)
The patient may experience different symptoms within each phase, but not every patient will experience mixed phases.
The symptoms of a Manic Phase may include some of the following:
- Inflated self-esteem
- Decreased need for sleep
- Talkativeness or pressured speech
- Flight of ideas
- Distractibility
- Increase in goal-directed activities
- Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities likely to lead to painful consequences
- Impulsivity
- Lack of caution
- Overspending
A Manic Phase may last from days to weeks and may result in hospitalizations. Patients may have persistently elevated and expansive mood, or be extremely irritable.
The symptoms of a Depressive Phase may include some of the following:
- Feelings of sadness, loneliness, or hopelessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
- Changes in weight or appetite
- Difficulty getting to sleep or excessive sleep
- Feeling guilty or worthless
- Trouble concentrating or remembering things
- Difficulty making decisions
- Lack of energy or fatigue
- Thoughts of death or suicide
- A tendancy to isolate
A Depressive Phase can last from weeks to months; throughout this time, the patient may feel deep emotional sadness.
In a Mixed Phase the patient may experience the same symptoms as above. However, she or he may simultaneously exhibit both manic and depressive symptoms daily. This is sometimes referred to as an 'agitated depression'.
Summit Research Network participates in research studies for Bipolar Disorder. If you would like more information, please call us at (206) 292-CARE (2273) or fill the form found on our self-assessment link below and we will contact you.
 Watch a Video on Bipolar Disorder
 Take our Bipolar Self-Assessment
washington@summitnetwork.com
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