Why it’s important
Research shows that many people who have bipolar disorder are initially misdiagnosed.
That is, they are often diagnosed with the wrong condition—usually major depressive
disorder (generally referred to simply as “depression”).
When people with bipolar disorder are given medicines to treat the wrong condition,
their symptoms may not improve. In fact, in some cases, symptoms may even get worse.
Working with your doctor to get a correct diagnosis
There are things you can do to help your doctor make the right diagnosis and prescribe
a medicine that’s right for you. Tell your doctor all the signs and symptoms that
are bothering you. And try to recall problems or symptoms that bothered you in the
past. Mention these to your doctor even if you are not experiencing those symptoms
now.
Get more helpful suggestions on how to
work with your doctor.
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Dr. Suarez is a practicing psychiatrist. He did not treat the patients depicted on this Web site. Dr. Suarez received compensation from Pfizer, the makers of GEODON, for his contributions to this site. |
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