The classical term is manic-depressive illness, a newer term is Bipolar disorder. The two are interchangeable. Milder forms of a depressive syndrome are called dysthymic disorder, mild forms of mania are hypomania and the milder expressions of Bipolar disorder are called cyclothymic disorders. The use of the term primary affective disorder refers to the individuals who had no previous psychiatric disorders or else only episodes of mania or depression. Bipolar affective disorder affects approximately one percent or three million persons in the United States, afflicting both males and females.
Bipolar disorder involves episodes of mania and depression.
These episodes may alternate with profound depressions characterized by a pervasive sadness, almost inability to move, hopelessness, and disturbances in appetite, sleep, in concentrations and driving. Most commonly, individuals with manic episodes experience a period of depression. Mood is either elated, expansive, or irritable, hyperactivity, pressure of speech, flight of ideas, inflated self esteem, decreased need for sleep, distractibility, and excessive involvement in activities with high potential for painful consequences. This devastating disease causes disruptions of families, loss of jobs and millions of dollars in cost to society. Many times bipolar patients report that the depressions are longer and increase in frequency as the individual ages.