Bipolar - GCSE Psychology Definition

What is Bipolar?

In GCSE Psychology bipolar depression involves two extreme states of emotion and activity: the ‘high’, manic phase when the person has huge, often frantic energy and the ‘low’ phase when the person experiences a low, ‘flat’ mood, has little energy and lacks motivation. The manic phase will be accompanied by feelings of euphoria, disturbed sleep and appetite, with the person experiencing racing thoughts, rapid speech and possible delusional feelings. This is followed by the depressive phase with its low mood, feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and extreme fatigue.

Each phase may last weeks or months and may be difficult to predict other than the knowledge that one phase will follow the other, with very little respite between the two. Bipolar depression is highly heritable (unlike unipolar depression which may either be inherited or a result of external factors). There is no known cure for bipolar depression although sufferers can manage their illness via CBT and drugs therapy.

Bipolar Revision Resources to Ace Your Exams

You can use the Save My Exams revision notes to revise the characteristics of clinical depression and further your understanding of the theories and treatments for depression.

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