This book provides a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to understanding bipolar disorder, integrating current research, clinical guidelines, and practical treatment strategies.

It is structured into four sections covering concepts and diagnosis, bipolar disorder in diverse populations and clinical contexts, treatment, and miscellaneous topics.

Part 1 explores the classification and diagnosis of bipolar disorder, including distinctions between bipolar and unipolar depression, assessment tools, and cognitive impairments associated with the disorder. Part 2 examines how bipolar disorder manifests across different demographics and clinical contexts, including women, older adults, children, and individuals with comorbid conditions such as ADHD and substance use disorders. Part 3 focuses on both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment strategies, addressing the evolution of pharmacotherapy, ongoing debates regarding antidepressant use, and comparisons of international treatment guidelines. Part 4 addresses broader issues such as suicide risk, historical case studies, and the relationship between bipolar disorder and creativity.

This book is designed for both clinicians and researchers, offering practical treatment algorithms, case-based discussions, and cultural considerations to enhance understanding and patient care. By synthesizing global perspectives and recent advancements in psychiatric practice, it aims to serve as a valuable resource for psychiatrists, psychologists, postgraduate students, and healthcare providers working in the field of mood disorders.

Emeritus professor Won-Myong Bahk is a psychiatrist with extensive experience in clinical psychiatry and research. His work primarily focuses on mood disorder and psychopharmacology. Prof. Bahk published 32 original books and 9 translation books, including the first Korean publication of "textbook of depressive disorders" and "textbook of bipolar disorder" as representative authors, and published 604 academic papers (including 200 SCI papers) related to psychiatry in major Korean and international medical journals. He previously served as the President and Chairman of the Korean Society for Affective Disorders and the Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology and currently holds the position of senior advisor for both organizations. In particular, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2025 for the first time in the history of the Korean Society for Affective Disorders, founded in 2001.

Professor Moon-Doo Kim is a psychiatrist specializing in mood disorders and psychopharmacology. Since 2002, he has served as a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Jeju National University Hospital. He has co-authored several books in Korean and published approximately 90 papers in SCI-indexed journals, as well as numerous Korean journals. Currently, he serves as president of the Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology (KCNP) and is president elect of Asian College of Neuropsychopharmacology (AsCNP). His excellence in research has been recognized with several prestigious accolades, including the GSK Academic Award from the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association and the Otsuka Academic Award from the KCNP.

Dr. Young Sup Woo is a psychiatrist specializing in mood disorders & psychopharmacology. He previously served as a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine and provided clinical services at Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital. Currently, he practices at Woo and Bahk Psychiatry Clinic, where he continues to provide expert psychiatric care. He has co-authored several books in Korean, and as an active researcher, Dr. Woo has published about 100 papers in SCI-indexed international journals, focusing on pharmacotherapy for bipolar disorder and depressive disorder. His contributions to psychiatric pharmacology earned him the Otsuka Academic Award from the Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

Professor Young-Eun Jung is a psychiatrist specializing in mood disorders and psychopharmacology. She is a professor at Jeju National University Hospital in South Korea. Dr. Jung has contributed to several textbooks in Korean and is an active researcher, having published approximately 70 papers in SCI-indexed international journals. Her significant contributions to the field of mood disorders were recognized when she received the Academic Award from the Korean Society for Affective Disorders in 2023.