Bipolar Disorder: Myths and Common Mistakes

Bipolar affective disorder remains one of the most misunderstood diagnoses — both in families and, frequently, within public psychiatric services.

Myth 1: "It's just mood swings"

In reality, bipolar disorder is a protective psychosis in which the affect shifts. Failing to grasp this core mechanism is exactly what leads to superficial treatment: a monthly injection and the instruction to "wait and see." Waiting without understanding the underlying nature of the condition is not treatment at all.

Myth 2: "One treatment plan fits all phases"

Bipolar disorder requires a specific approach to holding different affective states — including a clear rationale for which medications are needed during which phase. Teaching a patient to navigate that scheme is genuinely demanding work; consultations can run two to three hours. Applying a single, unchanged regimen across all phases is an error, not a treatment strategy.

Myth 3: "A correct diagnosis means correct treatment"

Even in countries such as Canada, the United States, and Australia, the depth of understanding of bipolar disorder within state-funded and insurance-based psychiatric systems is, in Dr. Saulītis's assessment, surprisingly weak. A correct diagnosis does not guarantee competent management. What matters is whether the clinician understands the nature of the disorder — not merely its label.

What this means in practice

If a loved one has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and the entire treatment consists of one medication with no explanation and no phase-specific adjustments, that is a reason to seek a second opinion. A clinician's genuine understanding of the disorder is not an added value — it is the minimum requirement for meaningful help.