How is bipolar I disorder diagnosed?
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Bipolar I disorder is often diagnosed based on a number of tests, including a physical exam and lab studies. It also involves a psychological evaluation. Here, a doctor will talk with you about your symptoms and possibly have you fill out self-evaluations about your behavior, thoughts, patterns, and feelings.
Your doctor may also ask permission to talk with your friends and family members about your symptoms. People experiencing extreme mania may not think they have a problem, so input from others can help.
Finally, your doctor may ask you to chart your moods and some of your daily activities so you can identify any patterns in your mood swings.
Bipolar I disorder is often diagnosed based on a number of tests, including a physical exam and lab studies. It also involves a psychological evaluation. Here, a doctor will talk with you about your symptoms and possibly have you fill out... More -
Donna Hill Howes answered:To diagnose bipolar I disorder, doctors will first determine whether you have bipolar disorder at all. Then they will see if your symptoms fit the description of bipolar I. They will usually start by asking you questions, then give you a physical exam, and use tests to tell if you have this disorder. The tests might include analyzing a sample of your blood or making an image of your brain. These tests cannot tell for sure whether you have bipolar disorder, but they can rule out other problems, such as a stroke, that could cause similar symptoms. If your doctor thinks you have bipolar disorder, or is having trouble deciding, he or she may refer you to a mental health expert such as a psychiatrist. The next step is determining whether your symptoms fit the description of bipolar I. Some people with bipolar I experience mania or mixed mania and depression that lasts seven days (mania is a feeling of intense joy or agitation along with unrealistic expectations). Others have such severe mania that they must stay in a hospital for treatment. Most also have bouts of depression lasting at least two weeks.To diagnose bipolar I disorder, doctors will first determine whether you have bipolar disorder at all. Then they will see if your symptoms fit the description of bipolar I. They will usually start by asking you questions, then give you a... More
