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Until recently, bipolar disorder was known as manic depression. The word bipolar is now used to indicate the 2 poles, or extremes, that characterize the disorder. Bipolar disorder can affect a person's ability to experience a normal range of mood.
If you picture a globe, the North Pole would be mania, and the South Pole would be depression. Every time you experience symptoms at one pole for at least 1 week, it is called an episode. Experiencing 4 or more episodes of mania and/or depression in a year is called rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.
As defined by the American Psychiatric Association, bipolar disorder includes 4 main mood episodes—Mania, Hypomania, Depression, and Mixed Mood.
Types of Mood Episodes Associated With Bipolar Disorder1
Manic Episode (Mania) is a distinct period during which there is an abnormally and constantly elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting at least 1 week.
Hypomanic Episode (Hypomania) is a milder form of mania that lasts at least 4 days.
Major Depressive Episode (Depression) is a period during which there is either depressed mood or the loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities, lasting for at least 2 weeks.
Mixed Episode is a period of time during which a person experiences both manic and major depressive symptoms nearly every day for at least 1 week.
Types of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar I Disorder2
One or more manic episodes or mixed episodes and often 1 or more major depressive episodes. Depressive episode may last for several weeks or months, alternating with intense symptoms of mania that may last just as long. Between episodes, there may be periods of normal functioning. Symptoms may also be related to seasonal changes.
Bipolar II Disorder2
One or more major depressive episodes accompanied by at least
1 hypomanic episode. Hypomanic episodes have symptoms similar to manic episodes but are less severe. Between episodes, there may be periods of normal functioning. Symptoms may also be related to seasonal changes.
Cyclothymic Disorder2
Chronic fluctuating mood disturbance involving periods of hypomanic symptoms and periods of depressive symptoms. It is a milder form of bipolar disorder; the periods of both depressive and hypomanic symptoms are shorter, less severe, and do not occur with regularity. Many, but not all, people with cyclothymic disorder may ultimately develop a more severe form of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
When the bipolar disorder is not characterized by any of the above mentioned types of bipolar disorder.1 The experiences of bipolar disorder vary from person to person. Occasionally someone will experience the symptoms of a manic episode and a major depressive episode, but not fit into the above mentioned types of bipolar disorder. This is known as Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. Just like the other types of bipolar disorder, Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified is a treatable disorder. | 
