| The seriousness of bipolar cases is | | | | thinking capabilities, and your reasoning |
| indisputable. In fact, many patients who have | | | | skills. |
| symptoms of a manic-depression state can be | | | | |
| misdiagnosed. Another important fact is that | | | | * Medical history. The doctor may also ask |
| a bipolar test can actually take years before | | | | you about drugs that had been prescribed to |
| a person is correctly diagnosed. Simply put, | | | | you in the past years. If necessary, he or |
| this mental illness is very difficult to | | | | she will also ask if you had been taking |
| detect. | | | | illegal ones. Drugs are possible causes of |
| | | | bipolar disorder. |
| When a person with manic-depression disorder | | | | |
| is high or manic, it is not surprising that | | | | * Lab tests. When necessary and if you have |
| he won't feel the need for a test. Therefore, | | | | indicated that you have been taking drugs |
| only the depressive tendencies are diagnosed | | | | other than those prescribed, you may be |
| most often. The result is an inaccurate | | | | subjected to a laboratory examination. |
| diagnosis of the patient, concluding the | | | | |
| symptoms as depression only when it is | | | | * Reference. Especially if the doctor finds |
| actually a bipolar issue. | | | | that you have a serious bipolar disorder, he |
| | | | or she may inquire about you from your |
| What The Doctor Looks For | | | | friends and family members. If your doctor |
| | | | asks for names of your friends, give them to |
| When a doctor conducts a bipolar test, the | | | | him or her. |
| patient will be asked with a series of | | | | |
| questions, assessments, laboratory exams, and | | | | * Observation tests. You may have to undergo |
| constant observations. These are | | | | a series of tests that aim to observe your |
| strategically outlined to determine if you | | | | behavioral patterns and mood swings. |
| have the disorder and to understand the level | | | | Sometimes it is even necessary to consider |
| of concern. The tests will consist of the | | | | observing your physique and how you dress. |
| following points: | | | | |
| | | | Diagnosing Children |
| * Origin and cycles. It is advised that you | | | | |
| recall the details as to when your | | | | A bipolar test can reveal many symptoms of |
| manic-depression episodes started. The | | | | this problem. But because symptoms share the |
| frequency of your bipolar cycle will also be | | | | same signs as that of other mental illness |
| important in diagnosing your problem. This | | | | issues, there is more difficulty in |
| will help your doctor in understanding the | | | | diagnosing children for a bipolar test. Kids, |
| level of seriousness of your problem. | | | | especially at a very young age may have |
| | | | characteristics similar to bipolar signs. |
| * Your family background and personal | | | | |
| history. The bipolar test will also include | | | | Since children are "normally" delinquent, |
| questions of these types. Bipolar disorder is | | | | anxious, and their learning curve is still |
| often caused by your childhood environment | | | | developing constantly at this time, it is |
| and may be attributed to your family | | | | more difficult to diagnose them. A child's |
| relationships. | | | | mood swings also share similar |
| | | | characteristics with bipolar symptoms. |
| * Assessment of your mental health. Depending | | | | Psychosis and attention-deficit hyperactivity |
| on the level of concern, it is possible that | | | | disorder (ADHD) can sometimes be mistaken for |
| you will be interviewed separately to | | | | bipolar disorder. |
| determine your emotional quotient, memory and | | | | |