13.4  Recurrent psychoses

Recurrent psychoses occur episodically (that means they come and go), usually with complete recovery between attacks. A common form of recurrent psychosis is bipolar disorder (previously known as manic depression). This is a condition in which a person’s mood can swing from one extreme to another. It is characterised either by manic episodes (periods of mania), or by mania alternating with depression (which you learned about in Study Session 12). Mania is a state of abnormally elevated or irritable mood, arousal and/or energy levels, which in some respects represents the opposite of depression.