If your GP suspects that you have bipolar disorder, they will usually refer you to a psychiatrist (a medically qualified mental health specialist). If there is a risk that you could harm yourself as a result of your illness, your GP will arrange for you to have an immediate appointment.
Specialist assessment
At your appointment you will be assessed. The psychiatrist will ask you a number of questions to determine whether or not you have bipolar disorder and, if you have, what treatments will be most suitable for you.
During the assessment, you will be asked about your symptoms and when you first experienced them. The psychiatrist will also ask you about how you usually feel leading up to and during an episode of mania or depression, and whether you have had thoughts about harming yourself.
The psychiatrist will also want to find out about your medical background and your family history, to determine whether any of your relatives have had bipolar disorder. If someone else in your family has the condition, the psychiatrist may wish to talk to them. However, they will ask for your agreement before doing so.
Other tests
Depending on your symptoms, you may also require tests to see whether you have a physical problem, such as thyroid disease.
If you have bipolar disorder, you will need to visit your GP on a regular basis for a physical health check. As well as having bipolar disorder, you may have other health problems, and any medication prescribed for you may have side effects. For example, putting on weight is a common side effect of medication that is used to treat bipolar disorder.
Advanced directives
If you are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it is important that you discuss your condition with the psychiatrist so you are fully involved in the decisions about your treatment and care.
However, in some cases - for example, where a person’s symptoms become severe - it may not be possible for them to make an informed decision about their care, or to communicate their needs. In such situations, it may be possible to draw up an advanced directive.
An advanced directive is a set of written instructions that state what treatments and help you want (or do not want) in advance in case you cannot communicate your decisions at a later stage. Your GP or psychiatrist will be able to provide you with further help and advice about this.
