Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis

Be a detective yourself and track your mood changes and sleep patterns daily. Let your family and friends be part of the process, too. They have unique insight into the changes in your mood and behavior. Don’t hide anything. Keep a journal to show... Full Answer

Bipolar disorder is difficult to diagnose for two main reasons. 1) There is no simple blood test or x-ray that indicates definitively one way or another if you have bipolar disorder. 2) The symptoms tend to vary from person to person and can... Full Answer

Many with bipolar disorder wait years to receive a correct diagnosis. Bipolar Disorder is often misdiagnosed as depression (because this is often the phase when they seek help), schizophrenia, other anxiety disorders, or borderline personality... Full Answer

Knowing your family's mental health history will help in diagnosis and treatment of your illness. Because bipolar disorder tends to run in families, this may help clarify whether your symptoms might be bipolar disorder or something else. Bring this... Full Answer

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors can accompany other symptoms of bipolar disorder, and are more likely to occur during the first few years or episodes of the illness. Suicide risk can last a lifetime unless bipolar disorder is properly treated. This is... Full Answer

The first step in getting effective treatment for bipolar disorder is to get a comprehensive and accurate diagnosis. The best source for a diagnosis is an assessment by a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist, or family practitioner. It's... Full Answer

Ideally, it is hoped that your partner has been diagnosed by a licensed psychiatrist, although nowadays many people are diagnosed by general practitioners or other mental health professionals who may or may not have the necessary skills to treat the... Full Answer

A dual diagnosis means a person has a bipolar disorder diagnosis along with a drug or alcohol dependency. One of the top reasons a person with bipolar disorder has a poor treatment outcome is due to drug and alcohol abuse. Three Reasons for the... Full Answer

It’s possible, if the diagnostic person isn't sure of what they are doing. Bipolar disorder is not a difficult illness to diagnose in adults. It is a rather popular illness these days and I would assume there are people who jump to the... Full Answer

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has gone on to specialize in psychiatric illnesses. They diagnose mental illnesses by using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), which outlines the criteria a person must meet in order to be diagnosed with a... Full Answer