What is the classification of Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar Disorder is classified as a mood disorder because it primarily involves significant changes in mood and emotional states. Individuals with bipolar disorder experience episodes of mania or hypomania, characterized by elevated mood, increased energy, and heightened activity levels, as well as depressive episodes that can lead to feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and decreased energy. This duality of mood states is central to the diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder, distinguishing it from other categories of mental health disorders.

Understanding that mood disorders encompass a range of conditions characterized by disturbances in a person’s emotional state is crucial. Other disorders, such as personality disorders, anxiety disorders, or psychotic disorders, are defined by different sets of symptoms and criteria that do not specifically focus on the cyclical or episodic nature of mood changes that occur in bipolar disorder. This makes the classification as a mood disorder the most accurate and relevant for understanding the unique characteristics and challenges presented by bipolar disorder.