Some women may experience a peak of these episodes as late as their mid forties. ... However, those who have rapid cycling may experience more episodes of mania and depression that succeed each other without a period of remission (DSM III-R). ... Those unresponsive may experience more mania and much more rapid cycle of bipolar. ...
The alternating cycles range from mild hypomania to mild depression, to severe forms of mania or depression that can be accompanied by profound psychosis. Bipolar disorder is equally prevalent across sexes, with the exception of rapid cycling, a severe and difficult to treat variant of the condition, which arises mostly in women. ... Its main function is to stabilize the cycling characteristic of BD. ... It would seem that melatonin also appears to have some kind of important relationship to sleep-wake cycle regulation, possibly having to do with its effect of lowering body temperature. ... ...
Not nearly as prevalent as other forms of depressive disorders, bipolar disorder is characterized by cycling mood changes: severe highs (mania) and lows (depression). ... When in the depressed cycle, an individual can have any or all of the symptoms of a depressive disorder. When in the manic cycle, the individual may be overactive, overtalkative, and have a great deal of energy. ... Women experience depression about twice as often as men.1 Many hormonal factors may contribute to the increased rate of depression in women-particularly such factors as menstrual cycle changes, pregnancy, miscarri...
