Disease: bipolar disorder
Question: for bipolar disorder, bipolar disorder symptoms?
Answer: To receive a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, you must experience at least one period of mania or hypomania.
These both involve feelings of excitement, impulsivity, and high energy, but hypomania is considered less severe than mania. Mania symptoms can affect your day-to-day life at work or home. Hypomania symptoms typically don�t cause as much disruption, but they can still be distressing.
Some people living with bipolar disorder also experience major depressive episodes or �down� moods.
These three main symptoms � mania, hypomania, and depression � are the main features of bipolar disorder. Different types of bipolar disorder involve different combinations of these symptoms.
Bipolar I symptoms
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5)
, a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder requires the following:
at least one episode of mania that lasts at least 1 week
symptoms that affect daily function
symptoms that don�t relate to another medical or mental health condition or substance use
You could also experience symptoms of psychosis or both mania and depression (known as mixed features). These symptoms can have more impact on your life. If you have them, it�s worth reaching out for professional support as soon as possible.
While you don�t need to experience episodes of hypomania or depression to receive a bipolar I diagnosis, many people with bipolar I do report these symptoms.
Bipolar II symptoms
A diagnosis of bipolar II requires:
at least one episode of hypomania that lasts 4 days or longer
and involves 3 or more symptoms of hypomania
hypomania-related changes in mood and usual function that others can notice, though these may not necessarily affect your daily life
at least one episode of major depression that lasts 2 weeks or longer
at least one episode of major depression involving five or more key depression symptoms that have a significant impact on your day-to-day life
symptoms that don�t relate to another medical or mental health condition or substance use
Bipolar II can also involve symptoms of psychosis, but only during an episode of depression. You could also experience mixed mood episodes, which means you�ll have symptoms of depression and hypomania simultaneously.
With bipolar II, though, you won�t experience mania. If you have a manic episode, you�ll receive a diagnosis of bipolar I.
Cyclothymia symptoms
A diagnosis of cyclothymia requires:
periods of hypomanic symptoms and periods of depression symptoms, off and on, over 2 years or longer
(1 year
for children and adolescents)
symptoms that never meet the full criteria for an episode of hypomania or depression
symptoms that are present for at least half of the 2 years and never absent for longer than 2 months at a time
symptoms that don�t relate to another medical or mental health condition or substance use
symptoms that cause significant distress and affect daily life
Fluctuating mood symptoms characterize cyclothymia. These symptoms may be less severe than those of bipolar I or II. Still, they tend to last longer, so you�ll generally have less time when you experience no symptoms.
Hypomania may not have a big impact on your daily life. Depression, on the other hand, often leads to more serious distress and affects day-to-day function, even if your symptoms don�t qualify for a major depressive episode.
If you do experience enough symptoms to meet the criteria for a hypomanic or depressive episode, your diagnosis will likely change to another type of bipolar disorder or major depression, depending on your symptoms.