Those who have bipolar disorder may notice a few different signs and symptoms. A partial list of them includes:
No two people are exactly the same, so remember that even two people with the same bipolar diagnosis may have totally different experiences and symptoms.
What are the Criteria for Bipolar Disorder?
The criteria for diagnosing bipolar disorder are fairly strict. Note that bipolar disorder is not the same as having mood variations, nor having occasional moments of depression and mania. Meeting criteria for the diagnosis of bipolar disorder requires the presence of certain symptoms over a specified time period. Some general comments about the diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder include:
Mania is in many ways the key symptom, though not the only one. Without mania, however, the condition would be considered a Depressive Disorder.
There are subsets of bipolar disorder that are all dependent on the frequency and duration of the manic and depressive episodes.
The different criteria that determine the specific diagnosis include Depressive Episode, Manic Episode, Mixed Episode, and Hypomanic Episode.
Recovery from bipolar disorder and co-occurring conditions—including substance use disorders—begins with a diagnosis. Finding a good dual diagnosis care facility is vital. For individuals struggling with bipolar disorder, as well as any other mental health conditions, we encourage you to seek care from WestBridge. Our evidence-based approach has yielded significant results throughout our years of dual diagnosis work.
Learn more about the dual diagnosis process, and about how there is hope for bipolar disorder treatment and care at WestBridge. Contact WestBridge to learn more about what we can do for you or for your loved one.
WestBridge provides evidence-based treatment for adults and their families experiencing mental illness with or without substance use. Contact for inquiries and questions. For more information about our programs, please visit https://www.westbridge.org/programs/.