Bipolar disorder remains a serious and often misunderstood illness, marked by diagnostic complexity, comorbid substance use, and treatment challenges. This session offers a historical perspective, DSM criteria review, and insights into mood cycling, mixed states, and subtypes. Practical diagnostic questions and treatment options, including lithium, atypical antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants, will be discussed. Attendees will explore psychological interventions, new genetic theories, somatic treatments, and clinical strategies to better understand and manage this complex condition.

Educational Objectives

• Describe the history and the differential diagnosis of bipolar disorder
• Review prescribing details for medications used to treat bipolar disorder
• Explain new genetic studies and somatic treatments for bipolar disorder

Level:Advanced