bipolar disorder

noun

: any of several psychological disorders of mood characterized usually by alternating episodes of depression and mania

called also bipolar illness, manic depression

Examples of bipolar disorder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Her private debt has nearly doubled In October, Sabrina was approved for disability benefits through Social Security because of her schizoaffective bipolar disorder. —Annie Nova, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2024

Another is that Mabel may have bipolar disorder, switching between knee-slapping manic mode and catatonic depression, although such mental illnesses weren’t well-diagnosed back then. —Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Aug. 2024

Alice has bipolar disorder, takes her medications, but still has manic episodes. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 7 Aug. 2024

One meta-analysis also found that having ADHD or bipolar disorder may raise the risk of the other condition.7 In this review, up to 1 in 13 adults with ADHD also had bipolar disorder, and up to 1 in 6 people with bipolar disorder also had ADHD. —Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 1 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bipolar disorder

noun

: any of several psychological disorders of mood characterized by alternating episodes of depression and mania

Medical Definition

bipolar disorder

noun

: any of several mood disorders characterized usually by alternating episodes of depression and mania

Note: The mania experienced in bipolar disorder may be of the euphoric or irritable type or both.

called also bipolar affective disorder, bipolar illness, manic depression, manic-depressive illness

compare major depressive disorder