Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder

This is the course of the disease where 4 or more episodes of illness arise within one year. Some patients may experience multiple episodes within 7 days, or even within 24 hours. It tends to develop in later stages of the disease. Rapid cycling bipolar disorder is more common among women.

With the effective and the right treatment bipolar disorders can be managed to have a more productive and healthier life. Thus early diagnosis is important for the management of the disease. If the patient does not take any treatment, the symptoms may worsen and within certain period of time patient may suffer more rapid cycling and more severe depressive and manic episodes than the illness first arise. With the right treatment patients may reduce the severity and the frequency of symptoms together with increased quality of life.