Bipolar disorder is often characterized by periods of very high or very low moods experts refer to as manic and depressive episodes, respectively.
But in some cases, people with bipolar disorder can experience both at the same time. This is called a mixed episode. In most cases, either the manic or depressive state is still predominant, but features of the opposite mood spectrum are present.
According to some studies, patients who exhibit mixed episodes usually experience more severe effects of bipolar disorder, have a higher risk of developing psychosis and may be at increased risk for suicide.
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