Bipolar I Disorder
Psychiatry/Behavioral · ~7% of blueprint- Pathophysiology
- Recurrent mood episodes with a strong heritable component and neurotransmitter dysregulation.
- Signs & Symptoms
- ≥1 manic episode — DIG FAST (distractibility, impulsivity, grandiosity, flight of ideas, ↑ activity, ↓ sleep, talkativeness); ± depression.
- Gold Standard Diagnosis
- Clinical (DSM-5): >=1 manic episode — elevated/irritable mood + increased activity/energy >=1 wk (or hospitalization).
- First-line Treatment
- Mood stabilizers (lithium, valproate) or atypical antipsychotics; avoid antidepressant monotherapy.
High-Yield Pearl
A single manic episode defines Bipolar I; antidepressant monotherapy can trigger mania — avoid it.
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Sources
Reviewed September 2026- CANMAT and ISBD 2018 guidelines for the management of patients with bipolar disorder — CANMAT / ISBD, 2018
- StatPearls: Bipolar Disorder — StatPearls Publishing / NCBI Bookshelf, 2026
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