If Laura has bipolar disorder, then she

If Laura has bipolar disorder, then she

a) experiences flashbacks interspersed with depression

b) never thinks about the risk that a major depressive episode will follow a manic episode

c) often experiences mood states that vacillate between depression and mania

d) once started a day euphoric and ended the day tired

Answer: c) often experiences mood states that vacillate between depression and mania

Depression and bipolar disorder are identified as manic-depressive illness that involves episodes of shifts in mood, energy, and activity. Such changes are more gradual and often may take weeks or even months than experiencing changes within the day. The hallmark of bipolar disorder is the alternation between two distinct mood states: a mood swing that is characterized by mania (or hypomania in less severe form) and depressive episodes.

It is common for the mania to present itself with increased energy, sleeplessness, excessive talking, flight of ideas, and at times, proprietary behaviour. For instance, a person with manic depression may shop a lot, have unprotected sex, or take up many ventures at a go.

On the other hand, depressive episodes include mood which is characterized by low mood, hopelessness, loss of interest in activities, fatigue, and even suicidal thoughts. A person in the depressive phase can barely get out of bed perhaps does not go out, has no desire for social interaction, and has changes in appetite and sleeping patterns.

The episodes of mood swings may be relatively frequent and/or last for weeks or even months in some people with bipolar disorder. Some may switch from one mood episode to another in less than four weeks while others may take more than a year to switch.

Before proceeding to the analysis of the results it is essential to make an important note: although option d) reflects the change of mood within one day it is unlikely to be related to bipolar disorder since the mood swing within such a short period is excluded by the essence of the illness. It is with such a rapid fluctuation of moods that other conditions are more related, such as borderline personality disorder. Apart from the fact that mood episodes must be distinguished as bipolar, we upend several of these criteria by indicating that bipolar mood episodes typically last longer, and it is the flipping between depression and mania over time that defines the disorder.