Bipolar Type 1 Symptoms

Bipolar 1 disorder is also known as manic-depressive illness. Of the two bipolar conditions---bipolar 1 and bipolar 2---bipolar 1 is considered the most severe.

Who is Affected

• Just under 6 million American adults battle bipolar disorder. While it usually develops in the late teens or early adult years, about half of all bipolar cases start before a person reaches 25 years of age.

What is Bipolar I

• The "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders," or DSM, is the standard doctors use to diagnose mental health disorders. According to the DSM, Bipolar I results in manic, depressive or mixed episodes that last at least seven days, or by manic symptoms that are so severe the person has to be hospitalized.

Symptoms

• Like the song says, "What I've got they used to call the blues." And everyone gets the blues at one time or another. It's normal. However, if someone has bipolar 1 being depressed or being maniacally happy can last weeks. In order to be diagnosed with bipolar 1, the symptoms of mania or depression have to be a huge change from the person's normal behavior.

Causes

• Scientists haven't found a specific genetic link to bipolar disorder, but they have discovered that between 80 and 90 percent of people with this condition also have a relative who battles some form of depression. Sometimes this is caused by distressing life events, or a biochemical imbalance that alters their moods.

Treatment

• The good news is bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives. There are two keys to this, however, and they're medication and psychotherapy.