In the past mental illness was diagnosed as demonic possession or collusion with the devil. People were punished for mental illness instead of helped. The treatments at that time were horrific for those suffering from mental illness. The misdiagnosis of mental illness then was partially due to ignorance and partially due to the misunderstanding of mental illness altogether. Currently when doctors need to diagnose mental illness it is done based on signs and symptoms. The signs and symptoms are presented as behaviors, feelings, unusual thoughts, and physical signs and symptoms. Mental illness can be perplexing to diagnose because the symptoms of some physical ailments can appear like a symptom for a mental illness.

Bipolar disorder or manic depression is difficult to diagnose because there is no customary test. A psychiatrist has to diagnose a person for bipolar disorder by enacting the following: by taking detailed notes of symptoms including the severity of symptoms, the duration and the frequency, by questioning family history of mental illness, by observing behavior and by speaking honestly about symptoms with the patient. As a matter of fact the most important part of a diagnosis is conferencing with the patient about their symptoms; this will work toward preventing misdiagnosis. In asking the patient questions about symptoms the questions will focus on reasoning ability, memory, the ability to express, and the ability to maintain relationships. There are no medical tests to confirm a case of bipolar disorder; instead doctors in the mental health field use the American Psychiatric Associations.- DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical manual of Mental Disorders) as their guideline to diagnose bipolar disorder.

The DSM contains the following diagnostic criteria for determination of a manic episode: a period of abnormally and persistent elevated, expansive or irritable mood with symptoms lasting for one week. If hospitalized the symptoms can be of any duration and while in the mood disturbance, three or more of the following listed symptoms must be present for a meaningful period of time; inflated self esteem or grandiosity, decreased need for sleep, talkativeness or pressure to keep talking, flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing, distractibility, increase in goal directed activity, increased involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for severe consequences. The following is also necessary for diagnosis of a manic episode: the symptoms cannot meet the criteria for a mixed episode, the disturbance is enough to cause noticeable impairment in lifestyle, or the episode is not due to drug or substance abuse.

The DSM contains the following criteria for determination of a depressive episode: The symptoms must occur for a two week interval and the onset of the symptoms must be a change from prior functioning and there must be the presence of either a loss of interest or depressed mood. Also five or more of the following symptoms must be present; depressed mood most of the day on a daily basis, a marked diminishing of interest in all or almost all pleasurable activities, significant weight loss or weight gain, insomnia or hypersomnia daily, psychomotor agitation or retardation, fatigued daily, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, diminished ability to think or concentrate almost daily and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide ideation. The following is also necessary for diagnosis of a depressive episode: cannot meet the criteria for a mixed episode, the symptoms cause significant social impairment, the symptoms are not due to drug or substance abuse, the symptoms are not due to bereavement, or the symptoms endure for more than two months. Although not a medical test, the methods used for bipolar disorder diagnosing have been found to be fairly accurate, millions of men, women and children are diagnosed and receive treatment yearly in the united states.

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