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Signs of Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder characterizes a patient who may go through at least two major mood changes within a year. The mood can go from a euphoric, manic high, to a period of normalcy, and into a period of really low lows. For people who go through rapid cycling, this can happen several times within a year.

  1. Bipolar Disorder

    • Bipolar Disorder is defined as having one or more mood disorder episodes involving a manic episode, mixed mood episode, or a major depression episode. These episodes tend to last several weeks or months at a time. The Bipolar 1 subtype describes a patient who has had at least a manic episode in a lifetime. She also often has depressive episodes, with a period of at least two months in between. Bipolar 2 patients also have manic and depression episodes, but the manic periods are usually milder; and depression episodes tend to be more chronic.

    Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder

    • Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder describes someone who has manic and depression episodes like Bipolar 1 and 2 patients, but he experiences at least four in a 12-month period. The mania usually involves several days of erratic behavior, sometimes requiring hospitalization. The depression episodes tend to be recurring as well. Between 10 and 20 percent of bipolar patients have rapid cycling.

    Time Span

    • One of the first signs of Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder, other than a previous diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder, is the time span in between cycles. If a manic episode suddenly flares up and dies down within seven days before the person begins a depression episode, it is known as ultra-rapid cycling. If the mood episodes change within 24 hours, it can be referred to as ultra-ultra rapid cycling.

    Manic Signs

    • When the mania begins, the person needs to be carefully observed for actions that may cause severe injury or death. Manic symptoms occur because the patient is in an elevated mood that can be beyond control. The extreme desire for physical activity, irritability, a need to start several projects at once and poor judgment can all point to a manic mood. Sleep and meals become irrelevant. Strong sexual desires can also occur.

    Depression Signs

    • There will tend to be longer periods of depression than mania with a Rapid Cycling patient. After the manic episode dies down, there may be a period of balance and normalcy for a few days, and then an onset of major depression. In this state, the patient may lose interest in his normally uplifting activities. Energy levels are down and fatigue sets in. A patient may also have trouble sleeping and begin to experience inexplicable pains in different areas. She may also start to exhibit intentions of suicide.

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