Diagnosing bipolar disorder.

Berk M, Berk L, Moss K, Dodd S, Malhi GS. Diagnosing bipolar disorder: how can we do it better? MJA 184:9;459-62.

Difficulties and delay in the diagnosis of bipolar disorder impede effective treatment and increase the burden of illness on the person, their family and society. In the 2000 National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association survey, the prevalence of bipolar I and II disorder in the US was estimated at 3.4%, with almost one third being incorrectly diagnosed as suffering from unipolar depression, and nearly half not having the condition recognised or diagnosed. A third of these individuals had been symptomatic for more than 10 years before the correct …