| Currently, there is no laboratory or medical test that | | | | Since there is a negative notion about mental illness, |
| would give a straightforward conclusion that a person | | | | people are likely to deny their condition to escape from |
| is suffering from bipolar disorder. This makes it difficult | | | | criticisms and discrimination. The result is, instead of |
| to determine if the symptoms (associated with bipolar | | | | seeking for immediate diagnosis on the onset of the |
| disorder) that are present to him or her are indeed | | | | illness, the patient prefers to keep it to him or herself. |
| signs of this mental illness. Meanwhile, it is very | | | | And if this happens, the effects could be far worse |
| important to detect whether or not this person really | | | | than previously imagined. |
| has bipolar disorder to provide the right treatment. | | | | Misdiagnosis |
| Furthermore, the symptoms that could be clear | | | | When people are ill, they go to the doctor for |
| indications of bipolar disorder can be related to other | | | | treatment and obviously this is generally a good idea. |
| identifiable physical or psychological illness. This makes | | | | However, there are physical illnesses that are not |
| it more difficult to give treatment since the focus is to | | | | related to any disease or physical conditions. Some |
| give relief to the existing physical pain; rather than | | | | medical doctors are limited to treating medical and |
| identifying if the patient is suffering from any | | | | physical conditions. They are not qualified to diagnose if |
| psychological problem. And to complicate these things | | | | the medical and physical conditions are caused by |
| even further, a person who shows physical signs of | | | | psychological illness. And since the patient complains |
| bipolar disorder goes to medical doctors rather than a | | | | about a certain physical pain, the treatment given is |
| psychiatrist. | | | | that which corresponds to the complaints. In other |
| Therefore, bipolar disorder often remains unknown until | | | | words they're treating the symptoms and not the |
| it is too late to give treatment. | | | | source of the problem. |
| But this does not end here. There are other factors | | | | In addition, psychological symptoms of bipolar disorder |
| that cause problems in diagnosing bipolar disorder. | | | | can also be associated with other psychological |
| These are: | | | | illnesses. These might be psychotic disorders |
| Doctors' Dissimilar Opinions | | | | (Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder) |
| There is an internationally accepted and standardized | | | | substance-induced mood disorder, major depressive |
| way to diagnose a patient whether he or she has | | | | disorder, mood disorder due to a general medical |
| bipolar disorder or not. The problem is, many therapists | | | | condition. |
| do not follow it. The result would be this: one patient | | | | With all these problems hindering a person - to know |
| can get several diagnoses from each therapist. The | | | | of his exact psychological condition, it is important to |
| DSM-IV or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth | | | | recognize his condition, accept that he needs help, and |
| Revision, by the American Psychiatric Association is an | | | | seek out a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist who is |
| internationally accepted standard for psychiatric | | | | experienced with this kind of case. In this way, bipolar |
| diagnosis. | | | | disorder can be managed properly and the effects |
| Self-denial on the part of the patient | | | | would be minimized. |