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Bipolar disorder, Module 5, 2025
Sadness and joy are part of everyday life. Sadness is a natural response to loss or disappointment, and joy or elation is a natural response to success or achievements. Mood fluctuations, therefore, are normal responses to daily life because of either pleasant or unpleasant events.
However, severe and persistent mood swings that result in psychological distress and behavioural impairment may be symptoms of an underlying mood disorder. A mood disorder may be present when sadness or elation:
- Are overly intense and persistent
- Are accompanied by other symptoms that meet the criteria for a mood disorder
- Significantly impair the person’s capacity to function physically, socially and at work
In such cases, intense sadness is termed depression, and intense elation is termed mania.
The term bipolar disorder is based on the shift in moods between these two extremes, or poles, of mood disorders – depression and mania. The main characteristic separating bipolar disorders from other mood disorders is the presence of recurring mania or hypomania (a less severe form of mania) that may alternate with depressive episodes.
This module describes the clinical features and treatment of bipolar disorder, complemented by information on lifestyle modifications and psychosocial interventions.
If you would like to participate in the 2026 PSSA/Insight CE programme, please contact Glynis or Gill at Insight Medicine Information at 011 706 6939 or email: cpd@insightmed.co.za
