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Bipolar Disorder

Given the nature of the illness and its sub-clinical forms, clinical experience indicates that a significant period of time may elapse between initial presentation and formal diagnosis of bipolar disorder (previously known as manic depression).

Bipolar disorder is a cyclical illness with three distinct treatment phases:

• acute mania
• depressive episodes, and
• maintenance therapy, including hypomania and mild depression.

Effective treatment of bipolar disorder includes the anticipation and detection of acute manic or depressive episodes, monitoring of the safety and efficacy of treatment regimes and screening for psychiatric and physical comorbidity.