Key messages
● Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common, complex, and costly psychiatric illness that can be devastating for the
affected individual and their families. Suicide is an important risk across the life span of bipolar patients.
● Accurate diagnosis is not easy, particularly in mixed states. Psychotic symptoms may suggest schizophrenia,
and a major depressive episode may appear to be unipolar depression. Comorbid anxiety and substance/
alcohol abuse often…