Why care about bipolar disorder? A primary care physician's guide to screening and referral

Patients with bipolar disorder are commonly seen in the primary care setting but rarely, if ever, present with mania. Most likely, they present with symptoms of depression, substance abuse, or personal problems. Consequently, the diagnosis of bipolar disorder may be missed. One way to increase recognition is to screen for bipolar disorder, especially in patients receiving a prescription for antidepressant medication. The Mood Disorder Questionnaire is a brief, simple self-report inventory that can be used as a screen for patients with bipolar disorder.