Bipolar I
At least one manic episode; depression common.
Clinical care prioritises accurate episode history, suicide risk, substances, medical mimics and longitudinal mood charting.
Educational neuroscience context only — not medical advice, diagnosis or a substitute for emergency or clinical care. If you are in crisis, seek local emergency services or a licensed clinician.
Conditions
Bipolar II
Hypomania plus major depression.
Cyclothymia
Chronic fluctuating hypomanic and depressive symptoms.
Substance-induced mood
Stimulants and others can mimic mania.
Medical mimics
Thyroid, steroids, neurological disease need exclusion.
Mixed features
Manic and depressive symptoms overlapping — high risk.
Signs
Decreased need for sleep
High energy despite little sleep.
Pressured speech / racing thoughts
Hard to interrupt conversational drive.
Risky spending / sex / driving
Consequence-blind pursuit of reward.
Depressive anhedonia
Loss of interest and energy between or after mania.
Suicidal ideation
Emergency evaluation required — not self-managed.
Care themes
Mood stabilisers / lithium
Cornerstones under specialist supervision and labs.
Atypical antipsychotics
Acute mania and maintenance options when indicated.
IPS RT / psychoeducation
Structure sleep and routines; involve families when helpful.
Crisis / hospital pathways
Safety first for mania with risk or severe depression.
Licensed clinicians diagnose and treat; this atlas does not.
Sources & research
- Bipolar disorderClinical primer on bipolar disorder.DOI
- A critical appraisal of neuroimaging studies of bipolar disorder: toward a new conceptualization of underlying neural circuitryCritical neuroimaging synthesis for bipolar circuitry.DOI
- Evidence-based guidelines for treating bipolar disorder: Revised third edition recommendations from the British Association for PsychopharmacologyEvidence-based treatment guidelines.DOI
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