Symptoms and Signs
Bipolar I Disorder Symptoms and Signs
This page pulls together the symptom-level picture of Bipolar I Disorder in a way that is easier to skim than the full pillar page.
Main diagnosis page
Clinical overview
- Bipolar I disorder is defined by mania. Many patients spend more time depressed than manic, but a single true manic episode changes the diagnostic frame and has major implications for risk, treatment, and long-term planning.
- Defining feature: A full manic episode is enough for the diagnosis, even if the person has never had a major depressive episode.
- High-risk points: The highest-stakes questions are usually about psychosis, impulsivity, suicidality, spending, sexual risk, agitation, and how fast functioning is falling apart.
- Treatment lens: Treatment decisions usually make the most sense when you anchor them to polarity: acute mania, bipolar depression, or maintenance after stabilization.