Ready to challenge your understanding? Our quiz on bipolar disorder is designed to test your grasp of mood extremes with a fun mental health trivia quiz that's both informative and engaging. Whether you're exploring a bipolar disorder quiz for personal insight or brushing up on a bipolar symptoms quiz, you'll tackle questions that spotlight how mania vs depression quiz items reveal key signs. Along the way, you'll discover symptom nuances and sharpen your awareness. For a deeper dive into treatment strategies, explore our medication insights , or take a depressive phase assessment . Test yourself now!
Which two mood states characterize bipolar disorder?
Mania and depression
Anxiety and depression
Dysthymia and euthymia
Delusions and hallucinations
Bipolar disorder is defined by alternating episodes of mania (elevated mood) and major depression. These mood extremes distinguish it from unipolar depressive disorders. Anxiety can co-occur but is not a defining mood state. For more details, see the NIMH overview here.
According to DSM-5, what is the minimum duration required for a full manic episode?
At least one week
At least four days
At least two weeks
At least one day
The DSM-5 specifies that a manic episode must last at least seven consecutive days unless hospitalization is required sooner. Episodes shorter than four days are considered hypomania, not full mania. This duration criterion helps differentiate manic from hypomanic episodes. For more information, visit the DSM-5 criteria summary here.
Which of the following is considered a first-line mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder?
Lithium
Sertraline
Fluoxetine
Haloperidol
Lithium has been a gold-standard mood stabilizer for both manic and depressive episodes in bipolar disorder for decades. SSRIs like sertraline and fluoxetine are primarily used for depression, and antipsychotics like haloperidol are adjunctive, not first-line mood stabilizers. Lithium also reduces suicide risk among patients with bipolar disorder. See treatment guidelines at NICE.
Which symptom is most characteristic of a depressive episode in bipolar disorder?
Psychomotor retardation
Grandiose delusions
Pressured speech
Elevated mood
During depressive episodes, patients often exhibit psychomotor slowing, which can manifest as slowed speech and movements. Grandiosity, pressured speech, and elevated mood are features of manic or hypomanic episodes, not depression. Recognizing these distinct symptoms aids accurate diagnosis. For more, see the Mayo Clinic’s bipolar disorder page here.
What primarily distinguishes hypomania from full mania in bipolar disorder?
Absence of psychotic features and no marked impairment
Higher risk of hospitalization
Duration longer than two weeks
Onset only in the morning
Hypomania includes many manic symptoms but lacks the severe impairment or psychotic features seen in full mania. It typically lasts at least four days but does not require hospitalization. This distinction helps clinicians decide on treatment intensity. For clinical criteria details, consult the DSM-5 specifier here.
Cyclothymic disorder differs from bipolar II disorder in that its mood fluctuations:
Are milder but persist for at least two years
Include full manic episodes
Occur only during childhood
Last fewer than four days each
Cyclothymic disorder is characterized by chronic, fluctuating mood disturbances with hypomanic and mild depressive symptoms for at least two years, without meeting full criteria for hypomanic or major depressive episodes. It is less severe than bipolar II disorder. Duration and symptom severity differentiate these diagnoses. More information is available at the NIMH site.
What is the most common age range for onset of bipolar I disorder?
Late adolescence to early adulthood
Childhood under age 10
Middle adulthood (40–60 years)
Late adulthood over 60
Bipolar I disorder most frequently emerges in late adolescence to early adulthood, often between ages 18 and 25. Onset before age 10 or after age 60 is uncommon and may prompt evaluation for other causes. Early detection in this critical period improves long-term outcomes. The American Psychiatric Association provides an overview here.
Which common side effect is associated with long-term lithium treatment?
Hypothyroidism
Hypertension
Hyperglycemia
Hearing loss
Lithium can impair thyroid function, leading to hypothyroidism in a significant proportion of long-term users. Regular monitoring of thyroid levels is recommended during treatment. Hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hearing loss are not typical lithium side effects. For monitoring guidelines, see the British Association for Psychopharmacology recommendations.
Is a major depressive episode required for the diagnosis of bipolar I disorder?
No, only manic episodes are required
Yes, always required
Only if episodes last more than two weeks
Only if psychotic features are present
Bipolar I disorder is diagnosed when at least one manic episode occurs; a major depressive episode is not necessary for diagnosis. Many patients do experience depression, but it isn’t required per DSM-5. Recognizing this prevents misdiagnosis as unipolar depression. For diagnostic criteria, review the DSM-5 text here.
Which neurotransmitter is most implicated in the pathophysiology of manic symptoms?
Dopamine
Serotonin
GABA
Acetylcholine
Increased dopaminergic activity is strongly associated with manic symptoms such as euphoria, grandiosity, and hyperactivity. While serotonin and GABA also play roles in mood regulation, dopamine dysregulation is most directly linked to mania. Treatments often target dopamine receptors to mitigate these effects. For more, consult this review here.
What defines 'rapid cycling' in bipolar disorder?
Four or more mood episodes in one year
Two manic episodes in one month
Continuous symptoms for six months
Alternating mania and depression weekly
Rapid cycling is the occurrence of at least four mood episodes (manic, hypomanic, or depressive) within a 12-month period. This specifier indicates a more challenging course and may require specific treatment adjustments. Other patterns do not meet the formal criteria. For more details, see the ADAA resource here.
Which psychotherapy has the strongest evidence for long-term management of bipolar disorder?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
Psychoanalysis
Hypnotherapy
Electroconvulsive therapy
CBT has robust evidence supporting its efficacy in reducing relapse and improving medication adherence in bipolar disorder. Psychoanalysis and hypnotherapy lack targeted evidence for bipolar management, and ECT is a somatic treatment used primarily for acute, severe episodes. CBT also teaches coping strategies for mood regulation. For evidence-based guidelines, see APA guidelines.
According to DSM-5, the mixed features specifier for a manic episode requires how many concurrent depressive symptoms?
Three or more
Two or more
Four or more
Five or more
The DSM-5 mixed features specifier for mania requires at least three concurrent depressive symptoms during a manic or hypomanic episode. This recognizes presentations with overlapping mood features and guides appropriate treatment strategies. This specifier helps identify patients at higher risk for suicide and rapid cycling. For full criteria, consult the DSM-5 text here.
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Study Outcomes
Identify Mania and Depression Symptoms -
Learn to recognize hallmark signs of manic and depressive episodes in bipolar disorder by recalling key symptom criteria.
Differentiate Mood Episode Characteristics -
Distinguish between the behavioral and emotional differences of mania versus depression to better understand their impact.
Analyze Behavioral Indicators -
Examine real-world examples and quiz scenarios to pinpoint patterns that signal mood shifts in bipolar disorder.
Assess Your Bipolar Disorder Knowledge -
Evaluate your understanding of bipolar symptoms and terminology through targeted quiz questions.
Apply Insights for Mental Health Awareness -
Use your quiz results to inform conversations about bipolar disorder and promote accurate mental health advocacy.
Cheat Sheet
DIG FAST Mnemonic for Mania -
The DSM-5 - based acronym DIG FAST (Distractibility, Irresponsibility, Grandiosity, Flight of ideas, Activity increase, Sleep deficit, Talkativeness) helps you recall core features of mania efficiently. This memory trick, endorsed by NIMH and Mayo Clinic, ensures you can swiftly answer mania-related questions. Practice reciting it before your bipolar disorder quiz to boost confidence and recall.
SIGECAPS Mnemonic for Depression -
Adopt the SIGECAPS acronym (Sleep disturbance, Interest loss, Guilt, Energy drop, Concentration issues, Appetite changes, Psychomotor shifts, Suicidal thoughts) from the DSM-5 to identify major depressive symptoms. Harvard's psychiatry department and the American Psychiatric Association recommend this tool for clarity and recall. Reviewing SIGECAPS before the mental health trivia quiz improves speed and accuracy on depression items.
Episode Duration & Severity Criteria -
DSM-5 defines a manic episode as lasting at least one week (or any duration if hospitalization is required) and hypomania for at least four days, while a major depressive episode requires two weeks of persistent symptoms. Recognizing these timeframes helps you distinguish between mania, hypomania, and depression during the mania vs depression quiz. Accurate timing knowledge can be a game-changer when interpreting case scenarios.
Genetic & Neurobiological Factors -
Bipolar disorder has a heritability estimate of around 70%, with first-degree relatives facing a 5 - 10% increased risk according to twin and family studies in Nature Genetics. Dopamine and glutamate dysregulation also play key roles in mood swings, per research published by NIMH. Understanding these underpinnings adds depth to your bipolar disorder quiz answers and highlights why family history matters.
Evidence-Based Treatments -
Mood stabilizers like lithium (therapeutic serum range 0.6 - 1.2 mEq/L) and anticonvulsants, plus psychotherapy (CBT and interpersonal therapy), are front-line treatments recommended by the American Psychological Association. Early intervention and adherence, as emphasized by WHO guidelines, significantly reduce relapse rates. Familiarity with these strategies will help you excel in any quiz on bipolar disorder treatment questions.
