Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder: Signs in Adults and Children

Bipolar disorder is a condition in which mood swings to extremes: from pronounced elevation to deep decline. Such phases last days or weeks, and between them there are periods without symptoms. Let's look at how this appears in adults and in children and what exactly a doctor checks.

What bipolar affective disorder is

This is a mood disorder with intense shifts. The upper pole is mania or hypomania, the lower is depression. The phases replace each other, sometimes without external causes, and usually last from several days to several weeks. Between them mood stabilizes — for weeks, months, or years, and a person may not notice any symptoms.

Several variants are distinguished. In type I, manic episodes last at least 7 days or are so severe that immediate inpatient care is needed; depressive episodes often last from two weeks. In type II, depression is combined with hypomania — a milder version of mania, without full manic episodes. Cyclothymia is hypomanic and depressive manifestations of lower intensity: in adults they persist for at least two years, in children and adolescents — at least a year. Four or more episodes of mania or depression per year are called rapid cycling. There are also mixed states, when signs of elevation and decline occur simultaneously.

The exact cause is unknown. The risk is higher if the disorder is present in a parent, brother, or sister. Childhood trauma, stressful events, and cannabis or cocaine use also contribute. In about 75% of cases there are also other mental disorders, for example anxiety.

Manic and hypomanic phases: signs

Elevation can be severe (mania) or mild (hypomania). From the outside, changes are noticeable earlier than to the person themselves: with hypomania they feel that everything is going well, while those close to them see activity unusual for them.

• elevated, agitated mood or, conversely, irritability and aggressiveness;
• very much energy, restlessness, need for less sleep;
• thoughts race, it is hard to concentrate, speech is fast, the person talks without stopping;
• increased self-confidence, attraction to risk, impulsive spending and actions that seem inappropriate to others;
• in severe mania — hallucinations, delusional ideas, suspiciousness.

Depressive phase: how it manifests

Decline looks like persistent low mood and loss of interest in what previously brought joy. There is little energy, the person tires quickly. Sleep is disrupted in both directions — there can be both insomnia and excessively long sleep. Appetite changes: there is either too much food or too little. Confidence falls, a sense of worthlessness and hopelessness appears, and it is hard to concentrate. The person may avoid meeting other people. The most dangerous symptoms are thoughts of death, suicide, or self-harm. There is no separate "male" or "female" picture in the descriptions: the signs of the phases are the same.

Symptoms in children and adolescents

In children and adolescents the same mood disorder is described; the difference is the duration in cyclothymia: symptoms persist for at least a year. With hypomania, a teenager may not feel anything bad — unusual activity and abrupt mood swings are noticed by those close to them and friends.

How the disorder is diagnosed and when to see a doctor

The diagnosis is made by a psychiatrist, to whom the family doctor refers. The specialist asks about mood, behavior, health, and family history, if necessary orders examinations to rule out other causes, and assesses mental state. Diagnosis takes time: the disorder manifests differently in everyone, and the symptoms resemble other mental conditions.

Make an appointment with a doctor if mood swings last a long time or interfere with work, study, or relationships. If a diagnosis already exists and help is not working, tell your specialist about it. If you are worried about someone close to you, suggest that they see a doctor.

The disorder itself is not a reason to call an ambulance. Numbers 103 and 112 — if the person talks about suicide or plans to harm themselves, if there is a direct threat that they will harm another, or if the condition requires immediate inpatient care.

The material is for reference: it does not replace a doctor's consultation and does not answer questions about your specific condition.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer