Diagnosis

Like all mental disorders, diagnosing bipolar disorder can be difficult as there is no simple test for it.  People seek help more often for depression but sometimes do not talk to their doctors about their episodes of mania.

To find out if you have got bipolar disorder, you’ll need to meet with a doctor and talk about:

• Symptoms you are having now

• Symptoms you have had in the past

• Similar symptoms in your family history

The doctor will also examine you physically, to rule out the possibility that there is another illness causing your symptoms.  They will then use guidelines and a scoring method to determine if you have got the disorder.

Only a qualified doctor can tell you whether or not you have got bipolar disorder. If you think you might have it, book an appointment and talk to your doctor about what you have been experiencing.

In the meantime you could do this mood disorder questionnaire to see whether your symptoms are similar to those of bipolar disorder.

Remember: this questionnaire is not meant to take the place of an evaluation by a doctor – bipolar disorder is very complicated and you cannot use a questionnaire to find out whether you have got it. If you are worried that you have got bipolar disorder, you should make an appointment with a doctor.