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Bipolar disorder is misdiagnosed as depression in over a quarter of cases, a new study suggests. The research was presented in June, 2009 at the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Annual Meeting in Liverpool.

Psychiatrists Dr Krishna Gangineni and Dr Richard Annear, who work in Wales, reviewed the medical notes of people referred to psychiatric services for assessment.

They found that over 25% of the patients with bipolar disorder had initially had their condition misdiagnosed as unipolar depression.

Misdiagnosis often occurs because the symptoms of bipolar disorder overlap with depression and other psychiatric disorders. However, misdiagnosis can cause serious problems. For example, if people are wrongly prescribed antidepressants this can make their bipolar illness worse.

“Recognition of bipolar disorder and its adequate treatment is paramount because bipolar disorder exacts such a high personal and societal toll," Dr Gangineni and Dr Annear said, “with high rates of suicide and interpersonal problems and a substantial economic burden.”

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Page updated July 1, 2009