Psyched: Educational Psychiatry Podcast

Welcome to PsychEd, the psychiatry podcast for medical learners, by medical learners. This episode covers the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder (Type 1 and 2), with insights from guest Dr. Mark Sinyor, Staff Psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.  Bipolar disorder is characterized by depressive and manic episodes. This episode focuses on the diagnostic criteria and assessment in mania, and presents a fictional case of a patient with a first manic episode. We discuss the epidemiology of bipolar disorder, and a plain-English description of manic episodes. We then explore the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for manic episodes using the mnemonic GSTPAID. Relating the criteria back to the case, we will talk with Dr. Sinyor about practical methods and tips for assessing a person who presents with manic symptoms. Some common mental status exam terms and findings in mania will be explained. We then discuss common differential diagnoses for bipolar disorder, including schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, borderl