A mental disorder in which a person’s mood can swing from one extreme to another. People with Bipolar Disorder have episodes of depression (feeling very low and lethargic) and mania (feeling very high and overactive).
The disorder affects 1 in 100 people and tends to begin later in adolescence with symptoms starting usually between the ages of 15 and 19 in young people.
The symptoms can include:
- extreme mood swings
- manic episodes such as talking a lot, racing thoughts, overconfidence increased activity
- difficulty with concentration
- low mood
- decreased energy
- disturbed sleep
- reduced appetite
- thoughts of self-harm
- psychosis
In the context of the criminal justice system, a diagnosis of bipolar disorder should be taken into consideration in the treatment of a diagnosed defendant or witness.