Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis and Symptoms

The First Steps Towards Proper Diagnosis

The first step in getting treatment for bipolar disorder is getting a correct diagnosis. This can be a more difficult than it might seem because the symptoms of bipolar can be similar at times to other major brain disorders, such as schizophrenia or major Depression. Because many regular family doctors may not be very familiar with bipolar, it is important to see a good psychiatrist that is experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar or schizophrenia.

One way to do this is to contact a local support group that deals with brain disorders such as schizophrenia and talk to the other members that already have experience with the local psychiatrists. If that is not convenient, we recommend you join in our discussion areas and ask there if anyone can recommend a good psychiatrist in your area. Local members may be able to recommend a good psychiatrist that they have worked with. As with most serious illnesses, its important to get diagnosis and treatment as quickly as possible.

The Common Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

Classic bipolar disorder (or Bipolar Disorder I) is characterized by episodes of mania and episodes of Depression. In a manic state, a person may have extreme euphoria or optimism, to the point of impairing judgement. They may be hyperactive and stay up all night, talk and move extremely fast, have increased sexual drive and decreased inhibition. 75% of manic episodes include delusions of some sort (most often delusions of grandeur), one of the reasons why it is sometimes confused with schizophrenia. Untreated manic episodes can last for weeks or even months. Conversely, during a depressive episode, the same person can feel hopeless and personally worthless. They may lose interest in their normal activities (including sex), have very little energy or motivation, be unable to concentrate, and have disturbances in sleep and eating habits. Mania and Depression do not necessarily follow one after the other; sometimes a person may experience a long symptom-free period before having another mood disturbance.

Bipolar Disorder II is characterized by episodes of milder Depression and milder mania, called hypomania. A hypomanic episode is different from full mania in that it does not include psychotic symptoms (i.e. delusions) and it does not include symptoms that might be dangerous to the person or to others. Although it has it's own name, bipolar disorder II is reliably diagnosed less often than Bipolar I, and some experts question characterizing it as a milder version of the disorder (Source: "Bipolar Disorder." New England Journal of Medicine 2004:351:5:476-486).

A mixed episode is characterized by symptoms of both mania and depression occuring together (i.e. during the same day) for at least one week. A person experiencing a mixed episode might be very anxious and disorganized, unable to sleep or concentrate. In children, it can resemble Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Mixed episodes are generally followed by depression, and occur most often in people under 25 or over 60 years of age.