Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder, is a mental disorder that causes states of extreme high and low mood swings. I ndividuals suffering from bipolar symptoms may experience severe depression where they may feel a sense of hopelessness and loss of interest in daily activities or they may experience a form of mania. Individuals with this order can feel depression and mania at the same time or individually, with mood shifts occurring as little as a few times a year or many times in a single day.