Bipolar mood disorder (also called manic-depression) has two phases: depression and mania (or hypomania). Mania is characterized by elevated mood symptoms, including:
The low phase, depression, may look a lot like postpartum depression. In fact, over 20% of women who screen positive for postpartum depression also had a bipolar disorder. It is often misdiagnosed as unipolar depression and over a third of those experiencing bipolar disorders suffered for 10 years or more with an incorrect diagnosis.
The risk factors for Bipolar Mood Disorder are family or personal history of bipolar mood disorder.
Treatment for bipolar mood disorder generally includes mood stabilizers such as lithium, quetiapine, or lamotrigine. Psychotherapy (talk therapy) may be effective as well.