Bipolar Disorder

In my experience, there are five common reactions from patients with a new diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and here are some suggestions for how to respond constructively.

A combination of clinical lore and some studies have led many psychiatrists to believe that it is crucial to screen depressed patients for subtle signs of “bipolarity.”

Some patients complain bitterly about depression and dysphoria, but they don’t tell you anything about the other half of their lives—the upswings of mood and energy—so you may not realize the need to suspect bipolar illness.