Bipolar disorder: focus on depression

Patients with bipolar disorder spend more of their lives in depressed mood than in elevated mood even though mania is the distinguishing feature of this condition. It is these depressive episodes that are associated with the marked disability and the high suicide rates linked to this disorder.

Is it possible to distinguish bipolar depression from unipolar depression?

Uncertainty often arises in the diagnosing of bipolar disorder, especially when there is no clear history of mania or hypomania. An approach to distinguishing between bipolar and unipolar depression is described.

Bipolar disorder: focus on mania

An episode of acute mania is a medical emergency. Pharmacological management involves treatment of the pathologically elevated mood and short-term containment of any associated behavioural disturbance. Psychological therapies are of use early in the manic process.

Bipolar disorder: focus on maintenance

Pharmacological, psychological and lifestyle strategies are of value in preventing the recurrence of manic and depressive episodes. Generally the medications used in acute treatment are continued as maintenance therapy.