Getting the Right Diagnosis
People with bipolar disorder often spend years suffering with their illness before they are properly diagnosed. In a July 2000 study conducted by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), nearly 70% of people with bipolar disorder surveyed said that they had been misdiagnosed. On average, they had seen 4 doctors before receiving the right diagnosis.
Here are some of the main reasons why bipolar disorder is difficult to diagnose:
- Bipolar disorder is often mistaken for depression: The symptoms of bipolar depression are almost identical to those of clinical depression (or “unipolar depression”). In addition, many people with bipolar disorder seek help when they are depressed, not when they're manic. Some people aren't always aware that their mania is part of an illness. They see this as a time when they can get a lot accomplished. Or they may be reluctant to give up the “highs.” They often downplay or deliberately avoid mentioning their manic symptoms when they visit the doctor
- Substance abuse and social problems can cloud the picture: People with bipolar disorder are far more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol because they're trying to treat their symptoms themselves (self-medicate). They are also more likely to have relationship troubles, or to struggle with their performance at work or in school. Unfortunately, doctors and patients often try to address these problems without getting at their root cause. In fact, a common myth among bipolar patients is that their alcoholism or drug abuse “caused” their bipolar disease, when in reality the reverse is usually true
- Bipolar disorder is harder to diagnose in younger people: Bipolar disorder in children and adolescents can often mimic other problems that occur at these ages. For example, the disease may be misdiagnosed as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); in both illnesses, children exhibit distractibility, aggressiveness, and destructive tantrums
