Bipolar Disorders and Their Clinical Management, Part II: Diagnosis, Differential Diagnosis, and Treatment

Bipolar disorder is a biologically and phenotypically diverse disorder and its diagnosis and treatment provides a significant challenge to even the most seasoned clinician. We provide an update on the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of bipolar disorder, reflecting recent changes in DSM-5. Our review provides a succinct summary of the treatment literature, encompassing pharmacologic and psychosocial interventions for bipolar depression, mania/hypomania, mixed states, and prevention of disease recurrence. We provide a brief critical review of emerging treatment modalities, including those used in treatment resistance. Challenges involved in maintaining adherence are further discussed. Additionally, we review common treatment adverse effects and provide recommendations for proper side effect monitoring. There is evidence of significant functional impairment in patients with bipolar disorder and we conclude with a discussion of the impact of impairment on prognosis and quality of life. This review contains 4 figures, 8 tables, and 45 references. Key Words: bipolar disorders, differential diagnosis, maintenance pharmacotherapy, prognosis, psychosocial interventions, treatment, quality of life