What is the origin of word bipolar?

The word "bipolar" has its roots in the Latin words "bi-", meaning "two", and "polar", meaning "of or relating to a pole". It was originally used in physics and mathematics to describe something having two poles or opposing states.

Here's how it came to be used in the context of mental health:

* Early 20th Century: Psychiatrists began to observe patterns in patients who experienced extreme mood swings, shifting between periods of intense energy and euphoria (mania) and periods of depression.

* 1950s: The term "manic-depressive illness" was commonly used to describe this condition.

* 1980s: The term "bipolar disorder" emerged, replacing "manic-depressive illness". This shift was driven by a growing understanding of the disorder and the need for a more accurate and less stigmatizing term.

The word "bipolar" emphasizes the two distinct poles or extremes of mood experienced by individuals with this disorder. It captures the core characteristic of the illness, the fluctuating nature of mood between opposite states.