Bipolar Disorder Symptoms Mania and Hypomania Why Did Manic Depression Become Bipolar Disorder? The History and Reasons Behind the Change By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. Learn about our editorial process Updated on June 24, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Daniel B. Block, MD Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD LinkedIn Twitter Daniel B. Block, MD, is an award-winning, board-certified psychiatrist who operates a private practice in Pennsylvania. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print RapidEye/Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Ancient Origins Bipolar Disorder vs. Manic Depression Types of Bipolar Disorder Recent Findings Frequently Asked Questions The term manic depression was changed to bipolar disorder with the 1980 publication of the third revision of the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders." The term manic-depressive and manic had become highly stigmatized, so changing the label was intended to help minimize negative attitudes toward the condition. Renaming the condition also allows clinicians to better diagnose the condition. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, around 2.8% of adults in the U.S. have bipolar disorder. Ancient Origins The phrase "manic depression" has its origins rooted in ancient Greece, where the term was used as early as the first century to describe symptoms of mental illness. In her book "Bipolar Expeditions: Mania and Depression in American Culture," author Emily Martin writes, "The Greeks believed that mental derangement could involve imbalance among the humors, as when melancholy, heated by the fluxes of the blood, became its opposite, mania." What Does "Manic Depression" Mean? In the late 1800s, Jean-Pierre Falret, a French psychiatrist, identified "folie circulaire," or circular insanity, manic and melancholic episodes that were separated by periods that were free of symptoms. It is through his work that the term manic-depressive psychosis became the name of this psychiatric disorder. It's noteworthy that "psychosis" was included, thus excluding all types of what we know as bipolar disorder that do not include psychotic features. In 1902, Emil Kraepelin organized and classified what used to be thought of as unitary psychosis into two categories. Manic-depression was the term he used to describe mental illnesses centered in emotional or mood problems. Dementia praecox, literally meaning "premature madness," and later renamed schizophrenia, was his title for mental illnesses derived from thought or cognitive problems. In the early 1950s, Karl Leonhard introduced the term bipolar to differentiate unipolar depression (major depressive disorder) from bipolar depression. In 1980, with the publication of the third edition of the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM), the term manic depression was officially changed in the classification system to bipolar disorder. The Types of Bipolar Episodes Bipolar Disorder vs. Manic Depression In the last few decades, the medical profession, and psychiatry specifically, has made a concerted effort to shift the vernacular to the official DSM diagnostic term of bipolar disorder. There are a number of reasons cited for this shift, including: Manic depression has generally been used to denote a wide array of mental illnesses, and as classification systems have become more sophisticated, the new term of bipolar disorder allows for more clarity in diagnosis. The terms "manic" and "mania" have been greatly stigmatized. Consider popular phrases such as "Manic Monday," Animaniacs, homicidal maniac, and the like. Similarly, the term "depression" is used flippantly by the general public for periods of sadness that don't really qualify as clinical depression. Bipolar disorder is more of a clinical term and therefore, less emotionally loaded. Manic depression emphasizes the predominant emotional symptoms but seems to exclude the physical and/or cognitive symptoms also present. The term manic depression excludes the cyclothymic or hypomanic (bipolar II disorder) versions of the disorder. Types of Bipolar Disorder There are three types of bipolar disorder recognized in DSM-5. They include: Bipolar I disorder: For this type to be diagnosed, you must have manic or mixed episodes lasting at least a week or manic symptoms that were severe enough that you needed to be hospitalized. Depressive episodes are often present too.Bipolar II disorder: Hypomanic, or depressive episodes happen in this type, but not manic episodesCyclothymic disorder or cyclothymia: This type is a milder kind of bipolar and is diagnosed when you've had both hypomanic and milder depressive episodes for at least two years. The Different Classifications of Bipolar Disorder Recent Findings In addition to changing how the disorder is classified in the DSM, researchers have developed a better understanding of how the symptoms present in different populations. For example, while the condition affects men and women at approximately the same rates, they may experience symptoms differently. Men tend to experience more severe mood episodes and are more likely to also have a comorbid substance use disorder. Women tend to cycle between manic and depressive episodes more frequently and experience more depressive episodes. There is no cure for the condition, but treatments have emerged that can help people manage their symptoms effectively. Medications used to treat bipolar disorder include anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and other medications. Psychotherapy is also often used alongside medication and can include dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Frequently Asked Questions What is the DSM? The DSM, which stands for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, is the diagnostic manual published by the American Psychiatric Association that classifies mental health disorders. It is used by doctors and mental health professionals to diagnose mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder.It has been revised a number of times since its introduction in 1952. The most recent major revision happened with the 2013 publication of the DSM-5, with a text revision known as the DSM-5-TR published in May of 2022. Learn More: An Overview of the DSM Is clinical depression the same as bipolar? No, the two conditions share some similar symptoms, but they are distinct diagnoses. Depressive episodes that occur in bipolar disorder feature symptoms of depression. Unlike clinical depression, bipolar disorder involves cycling between depression and mania or hypomania. Learn More: Depression vs. Bipolar Disorder: What's the Difference? Is bipolar disorder hereditary? Bipolar disorder is believed to have a significant genetic link. Research has shown that people who have a parent with bipolar disorder have a 10 times greater risk of developing the condition.Other factors that may play a role include brain structure, brain injury, stress, trauma, substance use, and hormonal changes. Learn More: Will My Child Inherit Bipolar Disorder? 5 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Mason BL, Brown ES, Croarkin PE. Historical underpinnings of bipolar disorder diagnostic criteria. Behav Sci (Basel). 2016;6(3). doi:10.3390/bs6030014 National Institute of Mental Health. Bipolar disorder. Ebert A, Bär KJ. Emil Kraepelin: A pioneer of scientific understanding of psychiatry and psychopharmacology. Indian J Psychiatry. 2010;52(2):191-2. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.64591 American Psychiatric Association. What are bipolar disorders? Harrison PJ, Geddes JR, Tunbridge EM. The emerging neurobiology of bipolar disorder. Trends Neurosci; 41(1):18-30. By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist Online Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.