Course 1: What is bipolar disorder?

In this course you learn about the definition of bipolar disorder, such as mood swings, episodes, triggers, relapse, onset; signs and symptoms; the differences between schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder; causes and types; related disorders that can lead to a misdiagnosis, the neuroscience, and the positive aspects of the illness.

In this course you will learn to define bipolar disorder and how it is different from other illnesses with similar symptoms (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder). ​​Identify the key features of mania, hypomania, and depression in bipolar disorder. Identify the different types of bipolar disorders and their key signs and symptoms. Define the causes and possible triggers of bipolar disorder. Identify co-occurring illnesses related to bipolar disorder which are commonly misdiagnosed.

This course has been developed by Bipolar Australia. Bipolar Australia is a national not-for-profit organisation representing everyone affected by bipolar disorder, including people with the condition, carers, friends and professionals who help them all. Our organisation was founded in 2014 with the intention of becoming the national peak non-government organisation for bipolar disorder.

For this course you will require proficiency in the English language, otherwise, no additional requirements or prerequisites needed. This course starts from the very basics of what bipolar disorder is. You can start from the beginning or skip past what you already know.