British Association for Psychopharmacology

Clinicians should make accurate diagnoses of hypomania, mania, and depression, and consider the use of the DSM-5 criteria to identify the core symptoms of mania. Patients with bipolar disorder may present with depression, especially in adolescence. In all patients with depression, clinicians should ask about distinct periods of elated, excited, or irritable mood of any duration and a family history of mania.

This Guidelines summary is a 2016 update of the 2010 guideline, and it provides recommendations on diagnosis, management of acute manic episodes, and long-term treatment.