Bipolar disorder may sound like a new illness, but it is not. It used to be called manic-depressive disorder and it has been around for hundreds of years. Individuals experience mood swings from depression to mania. The occurrence of these mood swings may range from daily to only a few times a year. Sometimes both can occur at the same time.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipolar-disorder/DS00356

In order to differentiate between unipolar depression and bipolar depression, the new term was introduced in the 1950s by Karl Leonhard. The term allows for a name that is less emotionally charged and allows for more clarity in the diagnosis. Manic depression emphasized emotional symptoms, but left out cognitive or physical symptoms. It also excluded cyclothymic disorder and bipolar II disorder. It was officially changed to bipolar disorder in 1980 in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.http://bipolar.about.com/od/definingbipolardisorder/a/manic_depression_changes_names.htm

This article on How to Diagnose Bipolar Disorder will explore the history of the disorder. It will also explain the difference between the different types of bipolar disorders. Finally, it will discuss the symptoms and how diagnosis is made. For types of treatment, please read How to Treat Bipolar Disorder.

The history of manic depression disorder goes back over 2000 years. The first person to link mania and depression together was a Greek historian named Ephesus in 100 A.D. The disorder was finally identified by a Persian physician named Avicenna in 1025. Because of the stigma mental illness caused, very little research was done until 1854. Dr. Jules Baillarger from France described both mania and depression and the way an individual could switch back and forth. Emil Kraepelin, a psychiatrist from Germany, finally coined the term manic depressive psychosis after observing patients suffer the extremes and mix of depression and mania. Eventually, in 1948, Dr. John Cade of Australia developed a drug called lithium carbonate to treat individuals with this disorder.http://ezinearticles.com/?Bipolar-Disorder-History---How-the-Ancient-Greeks-Discovered-Manic-Depression&id=1627036

In 1952 genetic linkage was discussed in an article was published in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disorder. It was thought that the disorder might run in families. By the 1960’s individuals who showed signs of the disorder were institutionalized, but received little help because it was not considered a mental illness at that time. New laws were finally established in the 1970’s giving help to those with the disorder. Finally, in 1979, the National Association of Mental Health was formed.http://ezinearticles.com/?Bipolar-Disorder-History---How-the-Ancient-Greeks-Discovered-Manic-Depression&id=1627036

The DSM released in 1980 changed the name of the disorder from manic depressive disorder to bipolar disorder. Since the 1980’s and continuing until today, more and more studies have been conducted on bipolar disorders in both adults and children to learn possible causes and new methods to treat this disorder. http://ezinearticles.com/?History-of-Bipolar-Disorder---Bipolar-Disorder-Already-Existed-Centuries-Ago&id=1147777

In approximately 2004, Dr. John Kelsoe from the UCSD Laboratory of Psychiatric Genomics identified a gene which is located on chromosome 22. This gene is believed to play a part in an individual’s susceptibility to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is suspected that these two disorders may be more alike genetically than previously thought.http://www.bipolar.ucsd.edu/chromosome22.htm

“There is a growing hope that not only will bipolar disease be easier to diagnose, treat, and live with, but that understanding it will also remove a lot of the associated stigma. It is a grueling disorder to live with and control. Even today, it often leads to suicide. … The better we know how bipolar disorder works, the better we can target it. Perhaps we can even prevent the mania and depression that makes bipolar disorder so devastating to live with and a major cause of socio-economic disability.” http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/bipolar/overview.php

There are seven different types of bipolar disorders, each having their own criteria for diagnosis.

Bipolar I: To be diagnosed with Bipolar I, an individual needs to have one manic or mixed episode that lasts one week during their lifetime. Since almost all individuals suffer depressive episodes, it is not needed to make the diagnosis of Bipolar I. http://www.identifybipolardisorder.com/types-of-bipolar/

Bipolar II: Having one depressive episode and one manic episode over an individual’s lifetime, leads to a diagnosis of Bipolar II. If individuals with Bipolar II are untreated, it gets worse. Eventually it could lead to a change in the diagnosis to Bipolar I. http://www.identifybipolardisorder.com/types-of-bipolar/

Cyclothymic Disorder: For this diagnosis, individuals must suffer from both minor depressive episodes and manic episodes over a two year period. At least one-half of this time the individual must be experiencing either highs or lows. Normal periods in between should not exceed two months. This condition is often referred to as bipolar lite, but eventually most individuals will be diagnosed with Bipolar II. http://www.identifybipolardisorder.com/types-of-bipolar/

Hypomanic v. Manic: Hypomania must last at least four days, but it is not severe enough to cause problems in the individual’s social life. It does not necessitate admission to the hospital. Mania, on the other hand, not only lasts over a week, but causes social life to be impaired and may require admittance to a hospital. http://www.identifybipolardisorder.com/types-of-bipolar/

Mixed Episode: depression and mania occur at the same time. An individual may feel like they are a failure on the one hand, and have multiple ideas on the other hand. This is the most dangerous of the bipolar experiences because the individual has radical shifts that are extreme. http://www.identifybipolardisorder.com/types-of-bipolar/

Mixed States: These mixed states can be brought on by stressful situations or drug use. Lithium helps to control the manic states and balance out the depressive states. Lamictal is also used because its antidepressant ingredients work on bipolar patients. These states of mania and major depression must occur every day for over a week. These individuals are at high risk for suicide. http://www.identifybipolardisorder.com/types-of-bipolar/

Schizoaffective Bipolar Disorder: In order to be diagnosed with this disorder, an individual must have hallucinations and delusions for a period of more than two weeks during normal periods. Mood stabilizers and anti-psychotics are used for treatment. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder overlaps, possibly from a genetic link. It is also possible that the individual has been misdiagnosed and should have been diagnosed as either suffering from bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. The risk of suicide in individuals with schizoaffective bipolar disorder is great. The percentage of individuals who either threaten or attempt suicide is significant. http://www.identifybipolardisorder.com/types-of-bipolar/

There is no one specific test for bipolar disorders, but the following is one example of questions that can aid in a diagnosis. If at least ten statements are checked, the individual is deemed to have bipolar disorder. This knowledge can be used to empower the individual and help them gain control over their illness. http://www.identifybipolardisorder.com/bipolar-test/

1. Sometimes I have a lot of energy for days at a time.
2. Some weeks I can stay awake for longer than normal and can’t get to sleep.
3. I feel restless frequently.
4. Sometimes I waste money on junk I don’t need or make extravagant purchases.
5. I have little to no appetite on a regular basis.
6. My emotions seem much stronger than the people around me.
7. Friends are curious about my erratic behavior.
8. I am mad about everyone and everything around me.
9. Sometimes everyone around me is going too slow and just can’t keep up.
10. I have a lot of sexual energy and sometimes engage in promiscuous behavior that I usually wouldn’t engage in.
11. Sometimes my friends have to tell me to slow my speech down because I am talking too fast.
12. I feel like eating all the time.
13. I prefer being alone as opposed to the company of other people.
14. I frequently suffer from a lot of physical pains.
15. Sometimes I am very creative and have a lot of productive projects that come to fruition.
16. I have a lot of ideas that always end up failing.
17. I frequently fight with people at work and end up moving from job to job.
18. Relationships never last for me.

Signs and Symptoms of Mania or Hypomania: Some of the signs and symptoms of mania or hypomania of bipolar disorder include: “euphoria, extreme optimism, inflated self-esteem, poor judgment, rapid speech, racing thoughts, aggressive behavior, agitation or irritation, increased physical activity, risky behavior, spending sprees or unwise financial choices, increased drive to perform or achieve goals, increased sex drive, decreased need for sleep, inability to concentrate, careless or dangerous use of drugs or alcohol, frequent absences from work or school, delusions or a break from reality (psychosis), and poor performance at work or school.”http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipolar-disorder/DS00356/DSECTION=symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of Depressive Phase: Some of the signs and symptoms of the depressive phase of bipolar disorder are: “sadness, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts or behavior, anxiety, guilt, sleep problems, low appetite or increased appetite, fatigue, loss of interest in daily activities, problems concentrating, irritability, chronic pain without a known cause, frequent absences from work or school, and poor performance at work or school.”http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipolar-disorder/DS00356/DSECTION=symptoms

There are some other signs and symptoms, such as seasonal changes in mood caused by seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Individuals with SAD become depressed or manic during certain seasons. Some individuals experience rapid cycling where they have rapid mood swings which may occur anywhere from four per year to multiple times per day. Those individuals who become detached from reality or have delusions or hallucinations may experience a psychosis.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipolar-disorder/DS00356/DSECTION=symptoms

The content on this page is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Speak with a qualified heath care professional to ensure that you have the most accurate information regarding any mental health diagnosis.