Assessing bipolarity in patients

To determine the level of bipolarity in a patient, various factors should be considered. These factors include family history of bipolar disorder, onset of symptoms typically between 18 to 24 years, the course of illness characterized by high recurrence and episodic mood episodes, and the response to treatment. Notably, patients with bipolar disorder often experience adverse reactions to antidepressants and have difficulty treating depressive episodes with antidepressant monotherapy. These non-manic markers carry 80% of the diagnostic weight in the bipolarity index, with the DSM manic symptoms accounting for only 20%. A comprehensive assessment can be conducted using the mood check questionnaire to gather essential diagnostic data.