Bipolar disorder is a chronic condition or a long term illness which usually begins in the adolescence or early adulthood and can continue through out the life. As it is episodic, it is usually not recognized by the people as a psychological problem.

The cause of bipolar disorder can be hereditary or genetic. Some environmental factors like the death of an intimate one, the financial difficulties, or the parent's divorce etc also can cause psychological problems which can end up with bipolar disorder. Usually it is caused by the imbalances in certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Abnormal functioning of the hormones, especially thyroid hormones adversely affects these neurotransmitters.

The symptoms of bipolar disorder can be classified to the periods of ups and downs called mania and depression.

Mania is the state of excess excitability occurred by the increased energy, activities and restlessness. The person becomes in a euphoric state of mood and finds himself exceptionally good. But he may not be able to concentrate well on anything he does. Racing thoughts, talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another frequently, extreme irritability, little want of sleep, denial for anything, spending sprees, increased sexual drive, exaggerated optimism etc all can be the symptoms of mania. The mild to the moderate level of mania is often called hypomania. Mania and hypomania are not less harmful than the depressive phase, as if not diagnosed and treated properly; they also can lead to depression ultimately.

Depression is another extreme condition which is caused by the bipolar disorder. The persons who are suffering from depression will usually find themselves in a persistent state of sadness and anxiety. They will become pessimist in their outlooks and feels hopeless. They usually suffer from a guilty consciousness and worthlessness. The usual pleasure which they gain from any activities will be lost and energy will be decreased. They can have a feeling of being slowed down in the regular activities. They will find it difficult to concentrate in anything they are doing. The people suffering from depression will feel a restlessness and irritability. They some times sleep too much or sometimes cannot sleep. They can have the change in the appetite which can cause unintended weight loss or gain. The worst thing they suffer is suicidal thoughts or suicidal attempts. They may try to put themselves in a situation which can cause death or injuries for them.

Bipolar disorder can be there who has the psychotic problems too. Either severe mania or depression can lead to this. Common psychotic symptoms include hallucinations in which the person can hear and sense the presence of the objects or persons who are not actually there. For some other people, there can be delusions, the false and strongly held beliefs which are not influenced by the logical reasoning or can be explained by the cultural aspects.

Bipolar disorder is subdivided into bipolar 1 disorder, bipolar 2 disorder, cyclothymia etc, depending up on their severity.

Bipolar disorder can be reduced with the help of proper medications, counseling, and psychotherapies, though cannot be cured completely. Those who suspect of having a bipolar disorder should seek the consultation of a good psychiatrist, as sometimes this is incorrectly diagnosed as major depression, schizophrenia or other mental problems.