Mania and Bipolar Spectrum Disorders

Abstract Mania and bipolar spectrum disorders (or BSDs) are serious and recurrent psychological disorders with significant occupational, social, and mortality costs. BSDs are characterized by episodic and prolonged mood episodes that range between abnormally and persistently elevated mood phases (mania) and frequently periods of dysphoria mood (depression). This first part of this chapter aims to provide an overview of the phenomenology and assessment of BSDs, review associated psychobiological processes across cognitive, affective, neural, and circadian rhythm dimensions, and consider the influence of context and social environment on BSDs. The second part of this chapter synthesizes empirically supported interventions to prevent and treat BSDs and highlights future directions that focus on increasing diversity and representation of marginalized communities and addressing stigma about BSDs and related psychiatric disorders.