Bipolar Disorder: Debunking Myths and Misconceptions

Bipolar disorder has gained its share of notoriety, being  featured in TV shows, movies and books; but in some cases, this complex condition has been broadly reduced to extreme changes in mood and behavior.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, bipolar disorder is a mental disorder that involves bouts of major depression and periods of mania (euphoria, poor judgment and extreme risk-taking activity) in a cyclic pattern. This disorder usually begins in adolescence or early adulthood, but children also can meet diagnostic criteria. There are three different types of bipolar disorder: