State Effect

A state effect, in the context of bipolar disorder, is a temporary shift in mood, thinking, or behavior that’s only present during a specific mood episode (mania or depression) and disappears when the person returns to a baseline or stable mood (euthymia). It’s the opposite of a trait” which is a permanent part of someone’s personality regardless of mood. These effects are like a passing storm: they arrive with the episode and disappear once it ends. An example is a typically cautious person who becomes impulsive during a manic state, but the impulsivity is not a permanent part of who they are.