This review has been done after careful research of articles published in indian journal of psychiatry with the search words of manic depressive psychosis and bipolar mood disorder. Many articles in the following areas are included: 1) ETIOLOGY: genetic studies: 2) ETIOLOGY - neuro psychological impairment: 3) Adult bipolar disorder 4) Epidemological 5) Clinical picture - phenomenology: 6) Course of bipolar mood disorder: 7) Juvenile onset bipolar affective disorder 8) Secondary mania: 9) Clinical variables and mood disorders: 10) Disability: 11) Comorbidity: 12) TREATMENT: biological 13) Recent evidence: 14) Pharmacological evidence in special population. Though there seems to be significant contribution, there are still lot of areas which need careful intervention. The findings in various studies from the indian point of view are reviewed.