Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder

There are several methods of controlling bipolar disorder so that afflicted patients may lead relatively normal and healthy lives. However, in order to be properly treated, it is vitally important for patients who suspect they may have the disorder to be correctly diagnosed. Diagnosing bipolar disorder can be slightly difficult, but there are a few discerning factors in bipolar disorder that enable doctors to do so.

The Importance of Mood Swings

Severe mood swings are the key basis of bipolar disorder. Everyone experiences a change in mood once in a while, or may feel differently from day to day due to environmental factors like job stress and family. However, people with bipolar disorder experience extreme ups and downs over a period as short as a few days or weeks to longer than months or even years. The mood swings are, in fact, the most important symptom and key to diagnosing bipolar disorder.

Where diagnosing the disorder gets dicey is that often patients may experience the depressive stage of bipolar disorder for longer periods of time or for more often. Thus, the disease may be mistaken for severe depression and may be treated as such. This is not the most effective treatment for people with bipolar disorder. The key to correctly distinguishing between bipolar disorder and major depression is family history. The diagnosing healthcare professional should consult the patient’s family and friends to take a comprehensive history of the patient’s behavior and how long the patient has been experiencing mood swings.

The Diagnoses

The diagnoses will be made after taking a personal history of the patient through family and friends. It is important to remember that the mood swings in bipolar disorder do not follow any particular set pattern. Patients will be given a thorough medical evaluation, including their mental and physical health. They may also be asked to complete a depression screening, which may consist of written or verbal questions. It is important to seek medical assistance after the first onset of mood swings in order to help diagnose the condition and begin a course of treatment. Beginning treatment as soon as possible is of great importance in stabilizing the condition.