Bipolar disorders, formerly designated as manic-depressive illness, represent a category of mental health conditions characterized by extreme shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. People with bipolar disorders experience episodes of both depression and mania or hypomania, which are periods of elevated or irritable mood, increased energy, impulsivity, and sometimes grandiosity or psychosis.
Bipolar and related disorders can significantly interfere with daily functioning, relationships, and work or school performance, and may lead to substance abuse, suicide attempts, or hospitalization if not managed properly.
