bipolar disorder

American  

noun

Psychiatry.

bipolar disorders plural

1. an affective disorder characterized by periods of mania alternating with periods of depression, usually interspersed with relatively long intervals of normal mood.

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bipolar disorder British  

noun

1. a mental health problem characterized by an alternation between extreme euphoria and deep depression

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bipolar disorder Scientific  

1. Any of several mood disorders usually characterized by periods of depression that alternate with mania.

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bipolar disorder Cultural  

1. Also known as manic-depressive illness. This psychiatric disorder is marked by periods of euphoric (manic) highs often followed by periods of depression.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bipolar disorders
  plural

Example Sentences

Army from 1989 to 1993 and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after his discharge, according to a letter filed as part of his diversion application last year.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

He attributed his behaviour to a "manic episode" brought on by bipolar disorder.

From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026

Turner, labeled “Captain Outrageous” for his erratic behavior, had once been thought to have bipolar disorder.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

He added that as a result of his bipolar disorder, he had "lost touch with reality".

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

By analyzing families that possessed intergenerational histories of mental illness, the study found striking evidence that bipolar disorder and schizophrenia shared a strong genetic link.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee