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Now, there are still other issues: if you have one switch, that is, go from depression DIRECTLY to mania, but then have a normal mood episode, this is a "switch" or "biphasic" cycling. If you go from depression DIRECTLY to mania, then continue DIRECTLY to depression again, this is "multi-phasic" cycling, worse than plain rapid cycling or even a plain or single "switch." But even "multiphasic" can end at some point, say with three or five DIRECT switches into other mood states, then a period of normal mood. Worse even than multiphasic is "continuous" cycling, which means that you never have a normal mood period: you cycle directly from one mood state into another with no normal mood. But again, the mood episodes may be long, short, mixed, with added features of panic, anxiety, etc. I guess the worst is ultra-rapid cycling and ultra-ultra-rapid or ultradian cycling, with many episodes in a day which just go on and on. It is very important to understand these differences, and write down all your moods and drugs, EVERY DAY. Otherwise, you will never figure out what is going on.

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It says "switching" is going from depression to mania to depression, etc. but with "normal" inbetween.

From: http://bipolar.about.com/od/rapidcyc...ymensrapid.htm