Diagnosis
To be diagnosed as having bipolar disorder, you will normally be referred to a specialist. Often this will be a psychiatrist.
Usually, psychiatrists will use a set of guidelines to make a diagnosis. These guidelines set out the symptoms that have to be present to make a firm diagnosis. The guidelines used could be either:
- DSM IV - Other wise known as "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders".
You can see the full DSM IV scale by clicking here - ICD 10- Otherwise known as International classification of disorders.
You can see the full ICD 10 scale by clicking here
The psychiatrist will also ask questions about your family history and background to see if other people in your family may have had the condition. They may also take notes of your age, when you first experienced the symptoms, and details of the exact symptoms you have had before making a diagnosis.
All this information is important in helping you to make decisions about your treatment.
