Bipolar disorder misdiagnosis happens frequently because bipolar disorder can be difficult to detect. Some people go as long as 10 years or more before correcting a bipolar misdiagnosis.¹

This has to do with the dual nature of the disorder. When someone is feeling manic or hypomanic (bipolar mania), they are full of energy and often feel good. They are "high on life" and seldom seek treatment. By contrast, they often seek treatment when they fall into a major depressive episode (bipolar depression). At that time, they describe only depressive symptoms to their doctor. Therefore, it is common for the individual to be incorrectly diagnosed with depression instead of bipolar disorder.¹ (Take a bipolar screening test or our bipolar quiz to help determine if you might have symptoms of bipolar disorder.)

Bipolar disorder misdiagnosis also occurs because bipolar disorder shares many of the signs and symptoms associated with other psychiatric illnesses, such as anxiety disorders and schizophrenia. ²

Unfortunately, no laboratory test can detect bipolar disorder and bipolar disorder misdiagnosis remains common. However, a simple questionnaire can help a doctor determine if someone has common symptoms of bipolar disorder ⁴ so to avoid a bipolar disorder misdiagnosis of depression or other mental illness. This questionnaire is called the Mood Disorder Questionnaire, or MDQ. The MDQ is a checklist that helps a doctor identify bipolar-related symptoms.⁴ 

How to Avoid a Bipolar Misdiagnosis

A diagnostic exam is used in diagnosing bipolar. This exam contains:

1. A complete psychiatric history- details current and past symptoms, and the symptoms or diagnoses of relatives. Bipolar disorder has a strong genetic component. Therefore, if there is a family history of depression or bipolar disorder, there's a good chance the patient may have it as well.
2. A complete medical history and physical exam- to rule out any other illness that may be mimicking the symptoms of bipolar disorder. HIV, a brain tumor or head injury, diabetes, epilepsy, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, a salt imbalance or thyroid disorder can produce bipolar-like symptoms.

If no other cause is found and the current symptoms have been of significant duration or caused significant impairment in functioning, a patient may then be diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

The Misdiagnosis of Bipolar Disorder Causes Many Problems

Early diagnosis and treatment for bipolar disorder are essential, but they often don't happen. Treatment of bipolar disorder is often delayed as many people with bipolar disorder do not know they have it. Some do not seek treatment because they are ashamed of what they feel, while some are incorrectly diagnosed with other illnesses, such as depression or schizophrenia.^1,2

Getting the appropriate treatment for bipolar disorder can help alleviate the following risks:

• Suicide
• Alcohol abuse, substance abuse
• Problems at school, failing out of school
• Divorce
• Not being able to function at work
• Alienating oneself from friends and family
• Worsening symptoms of depression and mania/hypomania
• Making the bipolar disorder more difficult to treat ³

What Happens After a Bipolar Misdiagnosis Is Corrected?

Patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder will be evaluated for bipolar treatment. The basic elements of bipolar treatment are bipolar medication, bipolar therapy, support, and education.

After a corrected misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder, the patient will be started on medication to stabilize his or her moods and address acute symptoms. Prescription medication may help control the number of episodes a person experiences; which is critical as the more episodes a person experiences, the more difficult bipolar disorder is to treat.

In order to manage bipolar disorder it in the long run, patients must learn how to cope with life stressors in healthier ways. Such awareness is difficult to gain without professional help. Several types of therapy are available including cognitive behavioral therapy and social rhythm therapy.

Psychotherapy, also known as "talk therapy" permits a patient to identify the impact of the disorder on his or her life and to begin recognizing events and thinking patterns that may lead or have led to episodes of illness. This process of therapy occurs within a safe and private setting that is difficult to create otherwise.

Other Illnesses Often Accompany Bipolar Disorder

People who develop symptoms of bipolar disorder when they're relatively young and remain undiagnosed are more likely to also develop alcohol abuse and other substance abuse problems.² These problems worsen the course of bipolar disorder and increase the number of hospitalizations.²

Other mental disorders associated with bipolar disorder include:

• Anorexia nervosa
• Bulimia nervosa
• Attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder
• Panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and other anxiety disorders

A bipolar disorder misdiagnosis can be disheartening, but once corrected, proper treatment begins. Talk to your doctor and discuss how you can remedy a prior misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder.

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Facts about bipolar disorder are crucial if you want to understand the illness. Reading about people’s real-life experience with bipolar can be comforting and inspiring to those with the condition, but it’s important to remember that no two experiences are the same. There is a lot of misinformation about mental illness online, so how do you separate fact from fiction? Here are some facts about bipolar disorder that everyone should know.  

Bipolar Disorder: Facts and Statistics Everyone Should Know

Bipolar disorder facts aren’t easy to come by. Whether it’s a misinformed comment from a friend or a thoughtless Tweet you read online, it’s easy to buy into people’s misconceptions about what bipolar disorder is actually like. Here are some bipolar disorder facts to provide a little perspective.

• According to The World Health Organization, bipolar disorder is one of the top three causes of hospitalization in people aged 15-44
• It is estimated that 5% of the world’s population is on the bipolar spectrum, while just 1-2% are diagnosed
• Bipolar disorder is more common than you might think. Around 4.4% of U.S. adults develop bipolar disorder at some time in their lives
• In adolescents, the prevalence of bipolar disorder is higher among females (3.3%) than in males (2.6%)
• Bipolar is a recurring illness. More than 90% of people who experience a single manic episode will go on to have another 
• Around 60-70% of manic or hypomanic episodes occur before or after a major depressive episode
• Treatment is successful in the majority of cases. Approximately 20-30% of people living with bipolar type I disorder and 15% of those with bipolar II disorder experience significant symptoms despite treatment compliance.
• The average age of bipolar onset is 20 for both men and women, though the disorder can develop at any time.

Is Bipolar Disorder Real? Don’t We All Have Mood Swings?

Some people wonder whether bipolar disorder is even real. After all, don’t we all have good days and bad days? Aren’t mood swings normal? Here, we debunk some common myths with facts about bipolar disorder.

Myth: Bipolar disorder isn’t real

Fact: Everyone experiences highs and lows, but the mood "swings" in bipolar disorder are marked by specific symptoms, and the consequences can be severe. Bipolar disorder is not a figment of the imagination; it is a recognized, treatable brain disorder with strict diagnostic criteria ("How is Bipolar Disorder Diagnosed?"). It can also cause a lot of suffering if it is not well-managed. Someone with bipolar disorder cannot just snap out of it – they need proper treatment.

Myth: People with bipolar disorder don’t get better

Fact: Managing bipolar disorder is a lifelong challenge for most people, and there is currently no cure. However, many people can and do lead healthy, happy lives with bipolar disorder, and treatment for bipolar disorder can be highly effective. While medication is prescribed in the majority of cases, people with bipolar find that therapy and lifestyle changes can help their moods stabilize and fend off future episodes.

Myth: People with bipolar disorder are always ill

Fact: The mood changes in bipolar disorder don't always happen in regular cycles. For some people, symptoms of mania or hypomania or depression only show up once or twice a year. Symptoms can be triggered by stress or other external factors, such as divorce, bereavement, the loss of a job or abusing alcohol or drugs. However, none of these things can actually cause bipolar disorder.  

Myth: Children can’t get bipolar disorder

Fact: Bipolar disorder can be diagnosed at any age. So, yes, bipolar disorder in children does exist. Children receive treatment in a similar way to adults with bipolar disorder, though it can be harder to diagnose because it displays similar characteristics to attention deficit disorders, such as ADHD.

It's essential to get bipolar disorder facts from trusted sources and not believe everything you read on the internet. If you are worried about bipolar disorder statistics or information you find online, it’s important to discuss your concerns with your doctor. 

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Bipolar hypomania has a reputation for being less severe than full-blown mania, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to manage. The symptoms are similar to those of mania – such as elevated mood, racing thoughts, and increased activity – but hypomania does not usually impact someone’s life in an obvious way. Although the symptoms of hypomania are subtle, they can still impair a person’s judgment and cycle into depression. It’s important to spot the signs of bipolar hypomania so you can receive support and treatment.

Bipolar Hypomania: What Are the Symptoms?

In bipolar hypomania, the "hypo" prefix stems from the Greek meaning of "under," often meaning "less than." In this instance, the term "hypomania" is used because this mood state is less than mania but more than "normal" levels of mood and functioning. The main difference between hypomania and mania is that hypomania doesn't have a noticeable impact on your relationships, work, or day-to-day functioning. What's more, people with hypomania tend not to experience the psychosis that comes with mania.   

Bipolar hypomania can be difficult to diagnose because it can masquerade as simple happiness or high energy. It’s important to identify hypomania, as it is a hallmark sign of bipolar type II disorder – an illness defined by periods of hypomania and depression. The symptoms of hypomania are similar to those of mania. In fact, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for hypomania and mania are almost identical.

Symptoms include:

• Decreased need for sleep
• Unusually high levels of energy
• Increased creativity, lots of ideas and racing thoughts
• Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
• Increased talkativeness
• Marked distractibility
• Impulsive behavior, such as excessive spending, hypersexuality

The presence of hypomania, as opposed to mania, is what differentiates two types of bipolar disorder (type I and type II) from one another. To be diagnosed with bipolar II disorder, you need to have experienced at least three symptoms of hypomania for four or more days at a time.

How Is Bipolar Hypomania Triggered?

Like mania, bipolar hypomania can be triggered by external factors. Although these triggers do not cause bipolar disorder, they can worsen the underlying illness and bring about a hypomanic episode. Some of the most common triggers for bipolar II hypomania include:

• Changes in sleep patterns, especially lack of sleep
• The loss of a job or relationship
• Conflict with loved ones
• Alcohol and drug abuse
• Some antidepressants
• Shifting hormones, such as those that occur in pregnancy and menopause
• Financial strain
• The loss of a loved one

Some of these triggers are more avoidable than others. Many people with bipolar find sticking to a daily routine, getting enough sleep and avoiding stimulants like alcohol and caffeine help to prevent episodes of hypomania. However, other life stressors, such as job loss or relationship trouble, are mostly unpreventable. For this reason, it's important to have a treatment plan in place so you can manage the symptoms of bipolar hypomania during particularly stressful or triggering times.

Bipolar with Hypomania: Treatment Options

Bipolar with hypomania often goes undiagnosed and untreated. There are several reasons why this happens:

1. The experience of hypomania can be pleasant for some people, resulting in a heightened state of creativity and a decreased need for sleep. People in hypomania are also extremely confident, so they don't doubt their decision-making capabilities and are unaware of the consequences of their actions. In other words, they don’t necessarily think that anything is “wrong” and therefore don’t seek treatment.
2. Bipolar II is often misdiagnosed as major depressive disorder, as depression in bipolar II disorder is far more prevalent than hypomania.

If you are diagnosed with bipolar hypomania, your doctor may decide to treat you with mood stabilizers. Medications like lithium and anticonvulsants are used successfully in people with bipolar II disorder. For less severe hypomania, you may be able to deal with your condition using a combination of psychological therapy and lifestyle changes – such as avoiding common triggers. This should only be determined through close consultation with your medical provider once a diagnosis has been given.

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Bipolar mania stories provide valuable insight into life with bipolar disorder, not least because they help us re-frame our own experiences. But what is bipolar mania actually like? The depictions of bipolar that we see in movies and TV shows aren’t always accurate, and it can be almost impossible to see our own lives reflected in dramatized versions of what life with bipolar is really like. With this in mind, here are some real-life stories of bipolar mania from people who live with and manage this condition.

Real Life Bipolar Mania Stories

Real bipolar mania stories are crucial if we want to understand the symptoms of bipolar disorder and the impact on those affected. When we talk about our experiences of mental illness, we help others feel less alone and reduce some of the stigma associated with mental illness.

Here’s what some of our bloggers have to say about bipolar mania:

"Some manic symptoms sound pleasurable and can even be perceived that way by the person with bipolar disorder. However, the problem with bipolar disorder mania is that the behaviors and thoughts are taken too far to the extreme and result in dangerous consequences.” Natasha Tracy, Breaking Bipolar

“Personally, I have felt like a superhero when I was manic. Now that I'm properly treated for bipolar and taking great care of myself, I know that being bipolar is not a “superpower.” I believe bipolar disorder has pros and cons, but a superpower it is not. Kara Lynch, Bipolar Griot blog

“Highs and lows are part of the territory of bipolar disorder. Learning to manage the extremes of bipolar disorder feels like something I'm constantly working on and that's okay. Wellness is a journey, and it can be improved by building your bipolar coping skills toolbox.”
Geralyn Dexter, Bipolar Vida blog

“I thought I was the gift of God. That I could do anything. I could beat anyone at anything. I decided to go from New York to LA and be a movie star. I went to a modeling agency and got a contract, and I'm 5'1"! I felt beautiful, and people thought I was beautiful. It was like they fed off my energy. I drove around on a little scooter I bought that was too dangerous- but I felt wild and free! I slept with three men. at once. No one could tell this was not the real me. I felt it, so they felt it.” Sherri, 45

”Manic episodes, for me, start out like a powerful rush of ecstasy. One experiences certain bravado and elevated esteem. I feel creative, intuitive, and giddy. I've functioned on a level of working 12-hour plus days with little or no sleep for long periods of time because I have ‘projects’ in my mind.” Juliet

What Is Bipolar Mania Like? Final Insights

Bipolar mania is different for everyone, but it doesn’t discriminate between gender, class or social standing. Some of the most powerful insights into what bipolar is like come from celebrities who have chosen to speak up about their experiences of bipolar disorder. Here’s what they have to say about bipolar mania and depression:

“At times, being bipolar can be an all-consuming challenge, requiring a lot of stamina and even more courage, so if you’re living with this illness and functioning at all, it’s something to be proud of, not ashamed of. They should issue medals along with the steady stream of medication.” Carrie Fisher.

"It's tormented me all my life with the deepest of depressions while giving me the energy and creativity that perhaps has made my career." Stephen Fry

"I was actually manic a lot of the times. I used to take on workloads, and I would say, ‘Yes, I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.' I was conquering the world, but then I would come crashing down, and I would be more depressed than ever." Demi Lovato

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Bipolar mania medications can help people manage and prevent the effects of a manic episode. The drugs come in various forms, and what works for one person with bipolar disorder may not work for another. In most cases, finding the right medication to help you control your mental health condition is a process of trial and error, and your doctor will want to work with you to find the best possible treatment for your symptoms. When it comes to advocating for your mental health, however, it helps to know your options. Here’s what you need to know about bipolar mania medications.

How Many Bipolar Mania Medications Are There?

There are several bipolar mania medications, but the most commonly prescribed drugs include antipsychotics and mood stabilizers. These drugs help to control mood swings and prevent the symptoms of psychosis that often occur in mania, such as delusions and hallucinations.

According to the National Institute of Health, there is substantial evidence that supports the use of the following drugs in acute bipolar mania:

• Mood stabilizers, such as lithium (Lithobid, Camcolit, Liskonum, Priadel, Lithonate, Litarex)
• Anticonvulsants, such as valproate (Depakote, Epilim) and carbamazepine (Tegretol)
• Antipsychotics, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine, Largactil) haloperidol (Haldol), Risperidone (Risperdal) and others

While medications can be prescribed to treat the acute symptoms of mania, most people with bipolar type I disorder decide to take medication long-term. What’s more, “combination therapy” (which includes various forms of medication and/or psychological counseling) is usually recommended to help people manage the ongoing effects of this condition. Sometimes, compulsory admission to a mental health hospital may be required if mania is severe, especially if your safety is at risk ("Bipolar Mania Stories: What Is Bipolar Mania Like?").

Do Medications Stop or Cure Bipolar Mania?

The goal of bipolar mania medications in an acute episode is to alleviate symptoms and allow the brain to return to normal levels of functioning. These medications work by rapidly controlling the areas of the brain that trigger agitation, aggression and impulsivity. In long-term use, bipolar medications can reduce the symptoms of mania and even prolong the onset of manic episodes. Most mood stabilizers also work to reduce the symptoms of bipolar depression.

There is currently no medication that can cure bipolar disorder or stop the symptoms completely, and many people with bipolar disorder have to take medication indefinitely. It’s important to remember that everyone is different. Some people choose to take bipolar mania medications during particularly stressful periods of their lives while refraining from long-term use. Others rely on daily medication to control their symptoms and lessen the likelihood of future episodes.

If You Think You Need Bipolar Mania Drugs

If you think you need medication to help you manage the symptoms of mania, your doctor can help you determine the right treatment for you. Before you can be prescribed a bipolar mania drug, you will need to meet the diagnostic criteria of bipolar disorder and receive a formal diagnosis from a specialist. Once you have been diagnosed, your doctor will explore the various medication options while looking at your family history, tolerance levels, current medications and general health.

If you have bipolar disorder, your path to treatment and recovery may not be the same as anyone else’s – and that’s okay. You may begin taking bipolar mania drugs, or you may decide to take a different treatment route. Either way, it can take months or years to find a strategy that helps you control the effects of mania, so it’s important to establish a therapeutic alliance and to communicate openly and honestly with your doctor.

Remember: you should never stop taking bipolar mania medications without guidance from a medical professional.

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What are the Symptoms of Bipolar Depression?

Some bipolar depression symptoms are the same as major depression symptoms:

• persistent sadness
• feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and helplessness
• loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
• decreased energy, feeling tired
• suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors

What differentiates bipolar depression is that, at some time, the person must have also experienced episodes of mania or hypomania. If you imagine a puzzle with a hundred pieces, depression itself would take up half of the pieces in bipolar depression. The rest would be puzzle pieces that represent bipolar disorder symptoms that can go along with the depression including:

• mania
• a high level of anxiety
• aggression
• ADHD and OCD symptoms
• psychosis (detailed information on bipolar psychosis and bipolar depression with psychosis)
• rapid cycling
• agitation
• and often mixed episodes.

Outside of mania, advanced depression can share a lot of these symptoms, but it's quite rare.

Other Signs and Symptoms of Bipolar Depression

Bipolar depression and unipolar depression are diagnostically the same, but in practice, certain depression symptoms are more likely in bipolar depression. Most cases of bipolar depression have excessive sleeping and daytime fatigue. There is increased appetite and weight gain. In contrast, people with unipolar depression tend to wake up often throughout the night and may also experience early morning awakening (e.g. waking up at 4:30 and being unable to return to sleep). Although some people with unipolar depression have increased appetite and weight gain, it is more common to have a loss of appetite and weight loss.

Bipolar depression is much more likely to be accompanied by stronger symptoms of anxiety. One-half to two-thirds of people with bipolar depression have a co-occurring anxiety disorder such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder or social anxiety disorder.

Sherri's Bipolar Depression Story

I asked Sherri, a 40-year-old woman with bipolar disorder, to describe the difference between depression and bipolar depression symptoms:

For me, bipolar depression comes with not only depression but psychosis. I start to see things that aren't there and hear things that aren't heard, like my name called over-and-over-again. I see mice running across the floor. I hear my name projected over the loudspeaker at the grocery store. I smell burning rubber in my apartment. With bipolar depression, I suffer these hallucinations and extreme paranoia. I feel like someone out there is trying to get me. I often have to cross the street if I see someone suspicious. With clinical depression, it's different. Those who experience usually only feel really down and hopeless. I feel bipolar is much worse because of the psychosis. I was diagnosed with depression before I ever had mania, so I've lived with this a long time.

See also "Bipolar Depression Early Warning Signs"

Researchers have found, and are continuing to find, a strong link between schizophrenia and weed. It’s been known that using marijuana daily can cause paranoia and psychosis (in short, experiencing hallucinations and delusions and not being able to distinguish them from reality). It also can create symptoms very much like the negative symptoms of schizophrenia: decreased motivation, loss of a sense of pleasure, flat emotions, and other, similar, experiences.

These schizophrenia-like symptoms come from cannabis use. Does that mean that there is a connection between schizophrenia and cannabis use? And can you develop schizophrenia from weed? Perhaps shockingly, the answer to both questions is yes (Drug-Induced Schizophrenia? Is It Possible?). In certain situations, cannabis can cause schizophrenia or initiate the onset of schizophrenia in someone at risk for developing it.

Schizophrenia and Cannabis Use: Limited Benefits

Researchers worldwide and from many backgrounds have been conducting numerous studies to determine what causes schizophrenia and how it can best be treated. The link between schizophrenia and weed is a focus of many such studies.

Proponents of medical marijuana have discovered that using cannabis medically can ease some of the symptoms of schizophrenia—if you are an adult. Their research also shows that the helpful nature of weed for people with schizophrenia is limited because while some people do experience a lessening of symptoms, others find that their symptoms worsen, sometimes drastically.

Schizophrenia and Cannabis Use: Biologically Related Risks

Studies conducted around the globe consistently show that there is a strong link between schizophrenia and weed, especially when there’s a family history of mental illness (Marijuana/Cannabis and schizophrenia, n.d.).

When someone with family members who have schizophrenia or another mental disorder uses cannabis, his or her risk of developing schizophrenia skyrockets and is ten times higher than the average population. This means that the chance of developing schizophrenia from cannabis is 1000% more when there is mental illness in someone’s genetic makeup (Marijuana/Cannabis and schizophrenia, n.d.)

A combination of genetic factors and cannabis use adds up to a huge risk of developing schizophrenia. Marijuana can be a cause, and genetics can be a cause. Adding on one more crucial component produces the perfect storm for the onset of schizophrenia: age.

Schizophrenia and Smoking Weed: Huge Risk for Teens

In adolescence and early adulthood, there is a strong link between schizophrenia and weed. Smoking marijuana more than doubles a teen’s risk of developing schizophrenia (Silverstein, Spaulding, & Menditto, 2006). The National Institute on Drug Abuse cites studies that show that cannabis use increases the schizophrenia risk by four times. Other studies show a similar, striking relationship between schizophrenia and cannabis, especially in people under the age of 21.

The reason that schizophrenia and weed are so strongly correlated in the teen years is that the brain is very vulnerable in this stage of life. It’s still developing and is highly susceptible to outside influences such as cannabis. The younger the teen, the greater the risk that cannabis will cause schizophrenia, especially if the genetic component is present (What Are the Schizophrenia Symptoms in Children and Teens?).

Researchers are discovering that the chemicals in cannabis drastically alter the way the brain develops. In particular, using cannabis while the brain is still developing boosts dopamine to unnaturally high levels. The high dopamine levels are directly linked to schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia and weed are strongly connected, and smoking weed can lead to the development of schizophrenia, especially in a developing brain with a genetic predisposition to mental illness. Of course, not everyone who smokes weed will get schizophrenia. But there is enough evidence that cannabis use can and does cause schizophrenia to warrant being cautious—and to make teens aware of the risk.

This statistic about the link between schizophrenia and cannabis highlights the extent of the risk: “Experts estimate that between eight percent and 13 percent of all schizophrenia cases are linked to marijuana/cannabis use during teen years” (Marijuana/Cannabis and schizophrenia, n.d.).

If your brain is still developing, and/or if you have a family history of mental illness, push away the weed. It’s simply not worth the risk.

What is Bipolar Depression?

Bipolar Disorder is comprised of two mood states: bipolar mania and bipolar depression. For many with bipolar disorder, it is the bipolar depression symptoms that have the greatest impact. When ill, patients spend more time in the bipolar depression phase and they find it takes longer to recover from bipolar depression than bipolar mania. In addition, suicide and suicide attempts usually take place during a bipolar depression or mixed episode phase of bipolar disorder.

Bipolar Depression vs Depression

The Difference Between Unipolar and Bipolar Depression

Both bipolar depression and unipolar depression (depression not associated with bipolar disorder) are considered to have genetic and environmental factors and they share many symptoms. So it's easy to be confused over the differences between unipolar and bipolar depression as they often look similar. They share the symptoms of:

• sadness
• hopelessness
• pessimism
• anxiety
• sleep problems

But after that, unipolar depression and bipolar depression go off in very different directions.

The biology of these disorders is different, effective treatments are different, and in some respects, the symptoms are also different. Both forms of depression can be very severe and carry a risk of suicide. However, the underlying difference between bipolar depression vs depression is that people with bipolar depression also experience episodes of either mania or hypomania.

It is important to make this distinction because the treatments for the two depressions are very different. Failure to make an accurate diagnosis can result in treatments that are ineffective or that can even make bipolar disorder worse.

(Detailed information on bipolar depression treatment.)

Suicide in Bipolar Depression and Depression

At the beginning of this article, we talked about bipolar depression and suicide. According to Dr. John Preston, the coauthor of books on mood disorders, the suicide rates differ greatly between the two depressions. Here is some information Dr. Preston provided on suicide and bipolar depression:

• The lifetime suicide rate for unipolar depression is 9%. The suicide rate for bipolar depression is 20%.
• The bipolar depression suicide rate reflects the fact that having a myriad of symptoms, including mixed mania, agitation, OCD, anxiety, and psychosis, can make a person extremely uncomfortable and desperate, along with being depressed.
• A person in a mixed state (episodes where depression, mania and possibly psychosis occur at the same time), has more energy and drive to actually try suicide.
• People who try to kill themselves want to end the pain. They don't want to end their lives, which is why so many more try than succeed.

(In-depth information on suicide and managing suicidal thoughts.)

Bipolar mania is one of the defining symptoms of bipolar I disorder, but how is it recognized and what are the causes? Manic episodes are characterized by elevated "highs" and abnormally hyperactive behavior. If left untreated, mania can impact a person's ability to function. Recognizing the symptoms of bipolar mania is the first step toward diagnosing bipolar disorder and seeking the most appropriate treatment, so what are the signs to look out for?

Symptoms of Bipolar Mania

Bipolar mania has a series of hallmark symptoms, all of which point toward a diagnosis of bipolar type I. Unlike hypomania – a less severe form of mania seen in people with bipolar type II – mania is easier to diagnose because it involves clear changes in energy and activity levels. To be diagnosed with bipolar type I, you must have experienced at least one manic episode that lasted at least one week.

According to the National Institute of Health, the signs of bipolar mania are as follows:

• Feeling very “high” or elevated
• A drastically reduced need for sleep
• Being energetic, increased energy levels
• Feeling “jumpy” or “wired”
• Increased activity levels, being more active than usual
• Having lots of ideas in quick succession, racing thoughts
• Talking fast about lots of different things
• Feeling you can do lots of different things at once
• Engaging in risky behaviors, such as spending lots of money or having reckless sex

Other symptoms of bipolar mania include:

• Impaired judgment
• Enhanced creativity
• Increased focus on religion
• Feeling powerful, high self-esteem
• Symptoms of psychosis, including hallucinations, delusions and paranoia

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines mania as "a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood" and "abnormally and persistently increased goal-directed activity or energy." Most people who experience bipolar mania also have episodes of bipolar depression.

(Read more bipolar mania stories.)

What Causes Mania in Bipolar Disorder?

There is no single cause of mania in bipolar disorder, just as there is no one reason why some people develop bipolar disorder and not others. Experts believe there to be several factors that work together to make a person more likely to develop the condition.

These include:

• A chemical imbalance in neurotransmitters
• Hormonal imbalances
• Genetics
• Environmental factors, such as trauma and abuse
• Triggers

Bipolar mania can be triggered in someone who doesn’t know they have bipolar disorder. Common triggers for manic episodes include:

• The death of a loved one, grief
• A relationship breakdown or divorce
• Extreme stress caused by problems with work, money or relationships
• Physical, sexual or emotional abuse
• Physical illness
• Pregnancy, childbirth or menopause in women
• Sleep disturbances

Treatments for Bipolar I Mania

Before you receive treatment for bipolar mania, you will need to be assessed by a psychiatrist. The doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms, medical history, current medications, and lifestyle, and may refer you for testing to rule out other conditions. Your doctor may also ask you to chart (keep a diary) your symptoms and moods.

If the bipolar mania is severe or you are believed to be putting yourself in danger, in-patient hospital treatment may be recommended so that you can be stabilized. Although you may feel ashamed or fearful of getting emergency help, a stay in a psychiatric hospital can give you the space you need to heal, away from the stressors of life and surrounded by professionals who can treat your symptoms ("Bipolar Mania Medications: Which Drugs for Mania Help?"). According to the Department of Health and Human Services, mood disorders are the third most common cause of hospital admissions in the U.S. for people ages 18 to 44, so there is no reason to feel ashamed.

If you need urgent support during an episode of bipolar mania or depression, you should call your doctor or contact your local emergency services.

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People living with schizophrenia could benefit from new schizophrenia medications. Medication is currently the main method of treating schizophrenia, and the primary type of medication is a class of drugs called antipsychotics. These are designed to dampen the psychotic, or positive, symptoms of the illness.

Many people experience at least some degree of success with the results of their current medications. However, researchers, doctors, and patients alike believe that medication can do better.

Current schizophrenia medications have limitations. They treat the positive symptoms of schizophrenia such as hallucinations and delusions, but they don’t improve the negative symptoms, like loss of motivation and pleasure, reduced speech, flat affect, and more. They also don’t improve cognitive symptoms such as problem-solving ability, reasoning, and memory. In addition to the limitations in the symptoms they treat, antipsychotics have a lot of side effects, many of them serious (Complete List of Schizophrenia Symptoms).

New Medications for Schizophrenia: Antipsychotics

Researchers continue to develop new understandings of how antipsychotics work. They have very recently discovered how medications “dock” in the brain—how they bind to their targets in the brain. This understanding is paving the way for the development of new schizophrenia medication, a new generation of antipsychotics that is more effective and has fewer side effects than the first two generations.

The goal is to develop medications that treat the positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms of this serious mental illness. As of 2014, over 30 new medications for schizophrenia were under development (Schizophrenia.com, 2014). Some of those have failed. Some were existing medications for other conditions that have received approval for use in schizophrenia. Still others are current antipsychotics that are being developed in extended release form.

Of the almost three dozen new schizophrenia medications, several are completely new and are progressing through the phases of research, a process that can take years. These new medications offer the promise of improved negative and cognitive symptoms as well as milder side effects.

One of the new medications making progress through the developmental phases is referred to as MIN-101 (it has yet to be named). Minerva Neurosciences has developed and is testing this drug. The drug blocks serotonin and sigma (dopamine) receptors and is designed to

• Reduce the intensity of positive symptoms
• Improve negative symptoms
• Lessen cognitive symptoms
• Increase the amount and quality of sleep
• Generally enhance mental health
• Produce fewer and less intense side effects than current medications

While MIN-101 isn’t available on the market yet, hope is on the horizon. In December, 2017, it entered phase III of the clinical trials in which developers are testing the effect of the drug, especially on negative symptoms. This phase will last approximately one year, and then it will progress to a fourth phase to check for relapse and possibly to test the drug’s effectiveness on adolescents.

The process of developing a new drug is slow and tedious, but it’s also exciting. New medications promise better treatment, and clinical trials ensure that any new medication isn’t just effective but safe, too.

New Schizophrenia Medication: Cannabinoids

Cannabinoid (CBD) treatment is a potential new schizophrenia medication. Cannabinoids are part of the marijuana plant but are different than tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound responsible for the high that many people associate with marijuana (Schizophrenia and Weed: Is Cannabis Helpful or Hurtful?).

CBS works in the brain differently than antipsychotics, and it potentially can reduce both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. GW Pharmaceuticals is developing a CBD treatment, one that isn’t medical marijuana but a schizophrenia treatment medication It has been undergoing human trials and has great potential as a new schizophrenia treatment.

New Approach to Schizophrenia Treatment: Early Intervention

A new schizophrenia treatment is being developed that relies on interactions and relationships has been successful in treating adolescents who are showing early symptoms of schizophrenia. This early intervention program is typically a two-year program that focuses on:

• Socialization
• Family therapy/family relationships
• Job and school assistance
• Antipsychotic medication when necessary

The program is therapeutic in nature and focuses heavily on counseling for individuals and families. Program developers strive to help adolescents and young adults live well and lead an independent (with support), productive life in spite of schizophrenia.

Thus far, these programs have had success. Skeptics remain, though, and more research must be done to determine the long-term effectiveness of this type of new schizophrenia treatment.

Research into New Schizophrenia Treatments Brings New Hope

Researchers have been making great strides in recent years. They understand now more than ever how medications work in the brain, and they’re using this new knowledge to develop better medications, drugs that treat more of schizophrenia’s symptoms and do so with fewer side effects. New schizophrenia medications offer realistic hope for a better life with this illness.