similar to what used to be the classis concept of manic-depressive illness - manic or mixed episodes, alternating with major depression.

has mania and depression, but with bipolar II, the depressive episodes are more frequent and more intense than the manic episodes.

describes an increasingly restless, energetic, talkative (often tangentially), reckless, powerful and euphoric behavior. Lavish spending sprees, gambling or risky sexual behavior is not uncommon.  At some point, the mood degenerates into a darker emotion, with feelings of anger, confusion and feeling trapped. The depression state includes typical markers of major depressive disorder, including extreme sadness, feelings of worthlessness, crying, loss of energy, changes in sleep and loss of pleasure in normal activities.

Why is bipolar disorder difficult to diagnose?

the high and low durations vary from weeks to months, and patients may come in for help only when in the depressed state.

In addition to the primary drugs used to treat bipolar, some patients use combinations of mood stabilizers, benzodiazepines (especially during acute mania), and, commonly, antidepressants.

Patients should be on a therapeutic dose of _______ prior to using anantidepressant, or they could experience a swtich back into mania. Calcium channel blockers (primarily _______) are occasionally used, as adjunctive therapy, for mood - stabilizing properties.