|
Everyone has ups and downs in mood. Feeling happy, sad and angry is normal. Bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive illness, is a serious medical condition that causes people to have extreme mood swings. These swings affect how people think, behave and function.
People with bipolar disorder may lose touch with reality, hear voices or have ideas that are not based in reality. These are called "psychotic symptoms." Psychotic symptoms can be very frightening for the person having them and for others. Problems with movement, called "catatonic symptoms," which may include extreme physical agitation or slowness and odd movements or postures, occur in up to 25 percent of people experiencing episodes of depression or mania. People with bipolar disorder who have psychotic or catatonic symptoms are sometimes incorrectly diagnosed as having schizophrenia, another severe mental illness.
Source: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
For more information visit the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health website at http://www.camh.net/ or call the Community Crisis Centre at (519) 973-4435.
DISCLAIMER: Information on this site is not to be used for diagnosis, treatment or referral services. HDGH, its healthcare team, CMHA and CAMH do not provide diagnostic, treatment or referral services through the Internet. Individuals should contact their personal physician, and/or their local addiction or mental health agency for further information.
|
|