Patients are more likely to report episodes of depression than mania, making an accurate diagnosis very difficult. In fact, a recent survey reported patients receive an average of 3.5 misdiagnoses and go an average of 8-10 years without an accurate diagnosis. During that time, bipolar disorder can cause significant harm and disruption in a persons life.
Like other mental illnesses, bipolar disorder cannot yet be identified physiologically by a blood test or a brain scan. Currently, diagnosis of bipolar disorder is made on the basis of symptoms, course of illness and, when available, family history. One tool used to screen patients for the disorder is the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ). The MDQ is a list of questions that helps a healthcare professional determine if a patient has had previous manic symptoms and may be at risk of having bipolar disorder
