What is bipolar disorder? Bipolar Mood disorder (BMD) or Manic Depressive disorder (formerly known) is a psychiatric illness characterised by sudden shifts or changes in the mood pattern of the person. It is a combination of elevated mood at times, and or periods of anxiety and depression at other times. It includes very highs and very lows of mood. The extreme mood changes are the characteristic and classical symptoms of bipolar mood disorder. These extreme changes may continue for days to weeks. Such mood swings are called mood episodes which include the manic episodes (mania, hypomania) and depressive episodes. Normal human can also experience sudden mood shifts but that generally would last for only few hours. In bipolar disorder the mood changes may last for days to week. It is believed to be a result of genetic predisposition, family history or some chemical changes within a person’s brain. With early detection and treatment using psychotherapy and adapting healthy lifestyle as w...