When the regulation of energy is disturbed for a long time, we speak of bipolarity: manic and depressive periods that alternate. At PsychosisNet we also speak of a bipolar mood susceptibility. Bipolar mood susceptibility and psychosis susceptibility often go together.
What is bipolarity?
Bipolarity can vary enormously. How severe the mood episodes are and how long they last is different for everyone. You can have mild manic complaints (hypomania), but they can also be so severe that they come with psychotic phenomena.
Read more about what bipolarity is and about the bipolar spectrum
Symptoms
How much mania, hypomania and depression someone experiences differs per person and per episode.
Causes and triggering factors
Bipolarity arises from an interplay of personal susceptibility, development and circumstances.
Read more about causes and triggering factors
Drugs and alcohol
Many people with a bipolar mood susceptibility struggle with alcohol or drugs at some time in their life.
Read more about bipolarity, alcohol and drugs
Treatment
- Treatment of bipolarity
- Medication for bipolarity
- Life chart method
- Social rhythm therapy
- Mood stabilisers
Do you need help now?
PsychosisNet offers information. We do not offer a chat, a helpline or crisis support. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call the emergency number in your country. If you are thinking about suicide, or you need to talk to someone now, see Need help now? for helplines by country.
Prof. dr. Ralph Kupka is professor of Bipolar Disorders at Amsterdam University Medical Center, and clinical psychiatrist at two large mental health centers: GGZinGeest in Amsterdam, and Altrecht in Utrecht. He is chair of the Dutch Foundation for Bipolar Disorders (KenBiS) and Vice-President of Education of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD).
Ralph has been active in national and international research consortia of bipolar disorders since 1995, and chief editor of the first Dutch handbook about this illness. He has chaired guideline committees and is board member of AKWA, the quality institute for mental health in the Netherlands.
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