Understand
Patients speak out after years of bipolar disorder being misdiagnosed as depression
Overview
Experts and patients are calling for better health screening for bipolar disorder after studies suggest many people with severe or recurrent depression are actually misdiagnosed. The report highlights the experiences of individuals who waited years or decades for the correct diagnosis, warning that incorrect treatments like antidepressants can sometimes worsen the condition.
Key points
- Kimberley Atkinson was diagnosed with depression for 14 years before experiencing a manic episode that led to being sectioned and diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
- Jacqui Armstrong spent over 30 years being treated for depression, including receiving electroconvulsive therapy, before being diagnosed with bipolar II.
- Research indicates that up to one in five people with severe or recurrent depression could actually have bipolar disorder.
- Experts like Professor Danny Smith argue that bipolar is significantly underdiagnosed in the UK, with patients waiting nearly a decade on average for a correct diagnosis.
- Charities and psychiatrists are calling for updated screening guidance to routinely check for mania and hypomania symptoms to prevent life-threatening delays.