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Bipolar Disorder: This term is used to describe a form of mental illnesses in which moods and reactions are affect, and which is characterized by irregular cycles of mania and/or depression. During manic the periods, the affected individual may be in a very elevated mood and exhibit symptoms of hyperactivity, wakefulness, distractibility or even irritability. Psychotic symptoms may also be present in very extreme manic episodes. During the depressive periods, affected individuals can exhibit sustained symptoms of depression, disinterest in most activities, fatigue, sleep disturbance, ranging anywhere from insomnia to hypersomnia, weight loss, weight gain, and sluggish or delayed mental reasoning.

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The definition of this term has been taken from the "Adoption Glossary," which contains definitions of a wide variety of words that relate to adoption and infertility. The entire Adoption Glossary is located at http://glossary.adoption.com.

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