The American Psychological Association, the nation’s largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology, has made available basic information on bipolar disorder through a question-and-answer session with Dr. Eric Youngstrom, professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and acting director of the Center of Excellence for Research and Treatment of Bipolar Disorder.

What is bipolar disorder and how is it different from the general mood swings that many people experience?

Bipolar disorder is a condition that leads to extreme changes in mood, energy and sleep. With all of these things, people will experience ups and downs in everyday life. What sets bipolar disorder apart is that the swings happen with more frequency and intensity than appropriate and they last much longer. The extremes also start to cause problems at school, work and home, with friends or in other important areas of life.

Is bipolar disorder on the rise or does it just seem that way because of frequent media coverage?

Both may be true, but changes in the actual rate are likely to be in the small-to-medium range, whereas changes in clinical diagnosis and media attention are huge. Several studies have found that the rate of clinical diagnoses of bipolar disorder has increased markedly over the last 20 years. But percentage increases exaggerate the appearance of change because the current generation of practitioners was not trained to look systematically for bipolar disorder. A recent analysis found no sign that the rates were increasing over the last 20 years.

How prevalent is bipolar disorder?

The analysis mentioned above found that bipolar disorders in children and teens are about half as common in adults, affecting 2 percent of the general population around the world (compared to 4 percent for bipolar in adults). Many studies suggest that roughly a third of all depressions have a bipolar cause.

What causes bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is caused by a combination of biological and environmental factors. Genes play a role, but genes are not enough by themselves to cause bipolar disorder. Diet may play an important role as well. Stress and trauma increase risk, as do intense emotional conflicts in families. Most of the risk factors for bipolar disorder also increase the odds of developing other conditions, such as anxiety or attention problems.

What are the most effective treatments for the disorder?

The best treatments for bipolar disorder focus on smoothing out the highs and lows in mood and energy. These include cognitive behavioral therapy to pay attention to potential triggers for hypomania or mania; improving emotion regulation; family-focused therapy to reduce intense emotional conflict; and social rhythm therapy that emphasizes regular sleep and activity patterns. When the mood and energy become extreme, however, reaching the severity of a full-blown mania or depression, then medication is important in reducing the symptoms to a level where therapy and everyday functioning become possible. Many incredibly talented and productive people have successfully dealt with bipolar disorder, so a goal of treatment should not just be symptom reduction, but helping the person to make the most of their gifts and abilities.