Am I really bipolar? Personal accounts of the experience of being diagnosed with bipolar II disorder

What is it about?

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a complex and chronic mental illness with highs and lows beyond the ordinary, which induces a significant risk of suicide. The aim of this study was to explore the experience of being diagnosed with BD and the impact that receiving a correct diagnosis had had on life situations and relationships with others. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with seven people diagnosed with BD. The results showed that the primary treatment all participants had received or were currently receiving was pharmacotherapy, typically without any psychological component. A major concern that arose was delayed diagnosis, leading to inadequate treatment, and lack of knowledge among professionals about non-typical forms of BD. Moreover, the experiences of others’ reactions were multifold, though generally surprisingly positive. Generally, the participants had learned to recognize, understand and tackle early symptoms of both hypomanic and depressive episodes to avoid developing a full-blown acute episode. This study highlights the crucial importance of a collaborative relationship between the clinician and the patient.

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Why is it important?

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a complex and chronical mental illness, which induces a significant risk of suicide. The aim of this study was to explore the experience of being diagnosed with BD and the impact that receiving a correct diagnosis had had on life situations and relationships with others. Delayed correct diagnosis was a major concern among the participants. We found that those who have been diagnosed with BD often go through several phases of denial. Once they have accepted their diagnosis, they can begin to learn more about the illness, their own distinctive symptoms, and how to handle them. Despite the obvious beneficial effect appropriate treatment has on the reduction of the severity and chronicity of BD, the current study revealed an alarmingly widespread scarcity of such treatments. Lack of appropriate treatment, as well as lack of knowledge both among the general population and among professionals, were core issues which need to be addressed. Professionals need more information about what to look for, so that an adequate diagnosis can be established on time. Most importantly, our study highlights the crucial importance of a collaborative relationship between the clinician and the patient.

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