What condition is indicated by episodes of depression and mania?

The condition characterized by alternating episodes of depression and mania is bipolar disorder. This mental health condition is defined by distinct periods of mood elevation (mania or hypomania) and periods of depression. During manic episodes, individuals may experience heightened energy, reduced need for sleep, and grandiosity, while depressive episodes involve feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities. This cycling between opposite emotional states is the hallmark of bipolar disorder, which sets it apart from other mood and anxiety disorders.

In contrast, major depressive disorder is focused solely on the depressive symptoms and does not include episodes of mania. Anxiety disorders primarily involve excessive worry and fear but do not typically include mood swings between manic and depressive states. Obsessive-compulsive disorder centers around unwanted repetitive thoughts and behaviors, which are distinctly different from the mood fluctuations found in bipolar disorder.