A patient with bipolar disorder will often cycle between depression and mania/hypomania. Terms have been used to define the frequency of these cycles.
Cycling Term
|
Cycling Frequency (after Suppes et al)
|
non-rapid
|
0 to 3 episodes per year
|
rapid
|
>= 4 episodes per year but not ultra-rapid
|
ultra-rapid
|
>= 4 episodes per month ("weekly") but not ultradian
|
ultradian (ultra-ultra rapid)
|
>= 1 episode per day in >= 4 days per week
|
where:
• Ultradian indicates a recurrent cycle with a period less than 24 hours.