Bipolar Test: Steps in Diagnosis

What is Bipolar Disorder?

With 5.7 million Americans suffering from bipolar disorder, it’s important for everyone to be educated as to the symptoms and signs of this mood irregularity. Through the years, doctors and mental health specialists have reached new heights in successfully diagnosing the disease, as in the past it was often confused with schizophrenia and depression. Now, there is a specific set of steps that doctors take when they administer a bipolar test to their patients.

Bipolar disorder is a disruptive mood disorder that causes the individual to experience both emotional highs and lows. The lows are known as depression, and the highs are known as euphoria. These mood swings vary in frequency and length depending on the individual and their own diagnosis, and a bipolar test does not involve things like blood tests or lab work.

Steps in Diagnosis

First, the patient is given a comprehensive physical examination. This is to rule out any other type of physical issue that could be the culprit for the person’s symptoms.

Secondly, a psychological evaluation is performed. This is performed by the doctor or mental health professional. The individual will freely and openly discuss their feelings, patterns of behavior, and thoughts. The doctor will have the individual fill out a questionnaire, or psychological self-assessment to gain further insight. It is at this time, as well, when family and friends may be asked for specific information regarding the individual’s mood swings and behavior.

Then, the doctor will ask the patient to keep a daily log of their moods, eating habits, exercise habits, sleep patterns, etc., so that they can more accurately diagnose their condition. Mood charting is a helpful and necessary aspect of the bipolar test procedure.

Lastly, the doctor or mental health provider will compare all of the patient’s symptoms with the criteria established in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Diagnosis to develop a complete disease and treatment analysis.

Those looking for extensive information online are encouraged to visit BPHope.com. This magazine was established specifically to help those who suffer from bipolar disorder or want to learn What Bipolar Disorder is. Their articles are geared toward helping individuals feel less alone, as well as to become more educated about their condition. Articles regarding treatment therapies, handling day to day life, relationship management, definitions as to what is bipolar disorder, information about bipolar test, and even bipolar in kids are all successfully tackled at this informative magazine.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Symptoms to Recognize in Teenagers with Depression and Anxiety

Both anxiety and depression conditions can be improved, but more than 80% of the kids with anxiety disorder and 60% with depression are not getting proper treatment according to the Child Mind Institute Children’s Mental Health Report.  Anxiety is a normal phase of childhood and each child experiences it at some point. It is usually temporary and harmless, but children with an anxiety disorder experience nervousness, fear, and shyness, and they start isolating themselves socially and look for ways to not get involved in any kind of activity.  A child or a teenager who sees a scary movie and then has trouble in falling asleep can be comforted and reassured. But this is not the case for a child with anxiety; they don’t get past their fear and anxiety. Anxiety disorders affect about 1 in every 8 teenagers. Research shows those teenagers who do not seek help are at a higher risk to being socially isolated, will be more likely to perform poorly in academics, and will often en
Read more

What Depression Feels Like

At BPHope.com, they offer help and inspiration for those with depression and bipolar disorder. The two are intimately entwined, and yet are not the same. Depression involves unabating feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, while bipolar disorder is marked by depression with alternating feelings of dangerous euphoria. Many people ask, what is depression? Learning about depression is the first step for people who feel they are suffering from it and want to get help. So what does depression feel like? For some, it feels like this: “It feels like someone is pressing down on my chest with an army boot.” “It’s like trying to run up a hill of mud, just to keep sliding back down.” “It’s like trying to get out of the chair to make myself something to eat and feeling like the task is equal to climbing Mt. Everest.” “It’s like instead of moving through air, I’m moving through syrup.” “It’s like being on fire while I’m drowning. It’s confusing and exhausting.” At BPHope.com, they o
Read more

Depression in Children – Digging into the Symptoms

Image
The fact that a child feels lonely or irritated that doesn’t mean he or she has childhood depression. Depression is different from the everyday blues that most of the kids develop at different times growing up. Depression in children is a persistent feeling of sadness, and when it occurs, the child feels alone, hopeless, and worthless. When this kind of sadness is unending and disrupts every part of a child’s life, from daily activities and schoolwork to friendships, it could be depression. Along with the child’s life, depression also affects the life of every family member. Distinguishing between normal behavior and true symptoms of depression in children is not always easy. Here are some of the symptoms that you should look for to detect depression in children. Anger or irritability Though it is a very common symptom of sadness or depressed mood in a child, they can also externalize responses, such as frequent temper outburst and aggressive behavior. Depression in younger ch
Read more