Bipolar Disorder Dictionary

affective disorder: Any mental condition characterized by significant emotional disturbances that aren’t caused by noticeable brain deformities. Affective disorders include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder depression, etc.

anticonvulsant: Also known as antiepileptic medication, anticonvulsant medication is a type of drug doctors generally prescribe to treat seizures. However, because anticonvulsants stabilize moods, they are an effective medication in the treatment of bipolar disorder.

antidepressant: A group of drugs that lifts the mood and, therefore, is used to treat depression.

antiepileptic: Also known as anticonvulsant medication, antiepileptic medication is a mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar disorder.

antipsychotic: Also known as neuroleptic medication, antipsychotic medication is generally used to treat the psychosis (i.e. hallucinations and delusions) associated with schizophrenia. However, because antipsychotics have mood stabilizing properties, they are also prescribed to bipolar patients.

benzodiazepines: A group of tranquilizing drugs with heavy hypnotic and sedative properties. While benzodiazepines are primarily used to treat sleep disorders, they are sometimes prescribed to bipolar patients.

bipolar I disorder: Also called manic depression, bipolar I disorder is a condition characterized by extreme mood swings and dramatic changes in energy levels.

bipolar II disorder: A form of bipolar disorder characterized by the presence (or history) of at least one depressive and one hypomanic episode without the presence of a manic or mixed episode.

catalepsy: The state of being entranced so that a person’s extremities are rigid and he is desensitized to pain. While catalepsy is symptomatic of schizophrenia, it can be induced by some of the medications used to treat bipolar disorder.

circular insanity: The early term used to refer to bipolar disorder. In the 1830s, the French doctors Falret and Baillarger identified the symptoms of bipolar disorder and called the condition circular insanity.

cognitive behavior therapy: A type of psychotherapy that works to replace negative thought and behavior patterns with positive, realistic, rational ways of thinking. Cognitive behavior therapy, along with medication, is effective in treating bipolar disorder.

compliance: The act of following a medication regimen. Complying with treatment for bipolar disorder means regularly taking the prescribed medication and attending therapy.

cyclothymic disorder: A mild form of bipolar disorder marked by many recurring short cycles of depressive and hypomanic episodes. Cyclothymic disorder is generally considered to be a personality trait, rather than a mood disorder.

depression: A mental condition marked by feelings of inadequacy, despondency and overall pessimism. Bipolar patients experience episodes of depression.

dopamine: A neurotransmitter associated with emotion, motivation, the sense of balance and feelings of pleasure. Dopamine, thought to be an inhibitor, plays a role in both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

dual-form insanity: Another term that the early French scientists Falret and Baillarger used (along with circular insanity) to refer to bipolar disorder. Both dual-form insanity and circular insanity referred to the most extreme, dramatic cases of bipolar disorder.

dysphoria: As the opposite of euphoria, dysphoria is a mental state characterized by depression, discontent and anxiety.

electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): A procedure that induces seizures in patients by using an electric current. ECT is used to treat severe cases of certain psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

episode: A period characterized by related events. Bipolar patients experience alternating depressive and manic episodes.