Rapid cycling bipolar disorder is a mental disease in which euphoric moods and lots of energy (mania) alternate with sad and low-energy ones (depression), as well as in-between periods with stabilised moods.
It is a fairly rare disease, as it affects less than a 10% of patients with some kind of bipolar disorder. The cause is unknown, however, it is thought to believe that genetic and environmental factors contribute to its development.
The symptoms, If you find yourself in a depressive episode, will manifest as a self-esteem loss, fatigue, low mood, insomnia, sluggishness, loss of an appetite with recurring death and/or suicide related thoughts. If you find yourself in a maniac episode, you will experience euphoria or irritability, high self-esteem, false beliefs of special abilities, a libido increase, less of a need to sleep and behaviour changes (reckless behaviour, excessive goods consumption).
The diagnosis is based off of the established DSM-5 criteria that include, at least, the presence of 4 depressive and/or manic episodes a year, the rapid cycling between episodes and ruling out other psychiatric disorders.
The treatment is combined including mood stabilisers like lithium, carbamazepine and valproate acid, as well as psychotherapy.
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), Washington, DC 2022.
- Lee S, Tsang A, Kessler RC, et al. Rapid-cycling bipolar disorder: cross-national community study. Br J Psychiatry 2010; 196:217.
- Carvalho AF, Dimellis D, Gonda X, et al. Rapid cycling in bipolar disorder: a systematic review. J Clin Psychiatry 2014; 75:e578.
- The ICD-11 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines. World Health Organization. ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics. World Health Organization.
