Dr Cummings Comprehensive 

Also known historically as "Manic Depressive Ilness", bipolar affects 1-3%of the population as is characterized as a mood state that can cycle between a severely depressed state and a heightened "manic " state. Classic or "Bipolar I" will be discussed here, but please note that the definition and types of bipolar are being expanded to Bipolar I,II,II......... by researchers such as Dr Akiskal at the University of California at San Diego

Because of the theories that bipolar illness involves hyperactivity of the brain the medications of choice called "mood stabilizers" are the same medicines used for epilepsy/seizures (Depakote, Tegratol,Lamictal,etc.)

• Symptoms of mania include:"
• distractability
• irritability
• grandiosity (feeling more powerful than they are)
• racing thoughts
• rapid speech
• jumping rapidly from one idea to the next
• for symptoms of depression please see "major depression" page