Understanding Depressive Disorders Kay Jamison, Ph. D., Describes what it is like to be a bipolar. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depressive illness, is a common illness characterized byre current episodes of mania and major depression. The type, severity and duration of mood episodes experienced c an vary. Some individuals may have a predominance of either mania or depression, whereas some sufferers may experience equal numbers of both. The mood episodes can last for a few days to as long as several months, particularly when left untreated or not treated effectively.
Depressions tend to last longer than manic episodes.
Typically, a person with bipolar disorder can expect an average of ten episodes of mania or depression in his or her lifetime but some sufferers experience much more frequent mood episodes. The frequency of episodes tends to increase with time and individuals who experience four or more episodes in a year are said to have rapid cycling. It affects both male and Female and there are striking similarities in between different countries and cultures. Recognition of the illness, in particular the manic episodes, can often be difficult and it can often be mistaken for depression. This can lead to a delay in diagnosis and inappropriate treatment.