As categorized by the DSM-IV, bipolar disorder is a form of mood
disorder characterised by a notorious emotive oscillation
between a phase of maniac or hypomanic elation, hyperactivity
and hyper imagination, and a depressive phase of inhibition,
slowness to conceive ideas and move, and anxiety or sadness.
Together these form what is commonly known as manic depression.
Manic depression with its two principal sub-types, bipolar
disorder and major depression, was first discovered near the end
of the 19th century by psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin who published
his account of the disease in his Textbook of Psychiatry. As
described below, there are several forms of bipolar disorder. It
should be noted that this disease does not consist of mere “ups
and downs”. Ups and downs are experienced by virtually everyone
and do not constitute a disease. The mood swings of bipolar
disorder are far more extreme than those experienced by most
people. Note: Bipolar Disorder is also commonly (and wrongly)
called “manic depression” b