A few years ago, a middle-aged woman from Vancouver, British Columbia, happened to read an article about bipolar disorder and hypersexuality , written by her very own psychiatrist. Hypersexuality may be the last frontier in bipolar disorder. The research is limited. Only seven studies have ever been published on the subject and their findings diverge: According to these studies, hypersexuality occurs in 25 to 80 percent of all patients with mania. And that hardly tells the story.
Bipolar disorder causes a person to experience intense shifts in moods, sometimes from a manic state to a depressed state, for example. These shifts can occur with changes in sexual desire, confidence, or sexual function. Though the symptoms vary from person to person, bipolar disorder can disrupt several aspects of a person's life, including their sexuality. Two distinct moods can characterize bipolar disorder: mania and depression.
Hypersexuality is extremely frequent or suddenly increased libido. It is currently controversial whether it should be included as a clinical diagnosis [1] used by mental healthcare professionals. Nymphomania and satyriasis were terms previously used for the condition, in women and men respectively.
Sex is an important part of most of our lives and no less so for people living with bipolar disorder. But maintaining a healthy sexual relationship when bipolar can as complex as the disease itself. Depending on the individual, behaviors can swing from periods of excessive sexuality to ones where sexual libido and function are seriously diminished.