cocaine, corticosteroids) or another medical condition.
Mood episodes that count toward defining a rapid-cycling pattern exclude those episodes directly caused by a substance (e.g. Except for the fact that they occur more frequently, the episodes that occur in a rapid-cycling pattern are no different from those that occur in a non-rapid cycling pattern. Mania symptoms last at least a week and include racing thoughts and speech, grandiose ideas, and impulsivity. To be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, one must experience a manic episode. Hypomania is a less intense form of mania. major depressive episode to manic episode). Read about mania and hypomania definition and symptoms. Episodes are demarcated by either partial or full remissions of at least 2 months or a switch to an episode of the opposite polarity (e.g. Manic and hypomanic episodes are counted as being on the same pole. The episodes must meet both the duration and symptom number criteria for a major depressive, manic, or hypomanic episode and must be demarcated by either a period of full remission or a switch to an episode of the opposite polarity. These episodes can occur in any combination and order. Note: The essential feature of a rapid-cycling bipolar disorder is the occurrence of at least 4 mood episodes during the previous 12 months.
