What are the two symptoms that must be present to diagnose bipolar disorder?

The diagnosis for bipolar disorder requires at least one depressive and one manic or hypomanic episode. Your mental health specialist will ask about your thoughts and feelings during and after these episodes. They’ll want to know if you feel in control during the mania and how long the episodes last.

What is similar to a manic episode?

Intoxication with central nervous system stimulant drugs (such as Cocaine, or Methamphetamine) can easily mimic a manic state. Similarly, intoxication with central nervous system depressant drugs (such as alcohol, or Valium) can mimic a depressive state.

What is the difference between a depressive episode and a manic episode?

With depression, typically, people experience only periods of sadness, or depressed mood that we’ve been talking about earlier. With manic depression, it requires that a person also have a period of a least a week of having what is called mania. Mania involves feeling unusually energetic.

How quickly does a person with bipolar disorder shift between highs and lows?

How quickly does a person with bipolar disorder shift between highs and lows? It depends. Mood shift frequency varies from person to person. A small number of patients may have many episodes within one day, shifting from mania (an episode where a person is very high-spirited or irritable) to depression.

What is the difference between mania and depression?

When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. When your mood shifts to mania or hypomania (less extreme than mania), you may feel euphoric, full of energy or unusually irritable.

What medications should not be taken with bipolar disorder medications?

Certain medications, such as valproic acid and divalproex sodium, should not be used during pregnancy. Also, birth control medications may lose effectiveness when taken along with certain bipolar disorder medications.

What are the signs and symptoms of a manic episode?

Both a manic and a hypomanic episode include three or more of these symptoms: Abnormally upbeat, jumpy or wired. Increased activity, energy or agitation. Exaggerated sense of well-being and self-confidence (euphoria) Decreased need for sleep. Unusual talkativeness. Racing thoughts.

Is it normal for a teenager to have a manic episode?

It’s often hard to tell whether these are normal ups and downs, the results of stress or trauma, or signs of a mental health problem other than bipolar disorder. Children and teens may have distinct major depressive or manic or hypomanic episodes, but the pattern can vary from that of adults with bipolar disorder.