[limeblack]

The defining factor between Bipolar I and Bipolar II is that you have been essentially never been hospitalized(and never had a completely documented manic episode). Ignoring psychosis the defining characteristic of a mental illness is often abnormal behavior which is slightly subjective. It is essentially the scale of the issue(mania typically) when it becomes a mental illness.

[bipolarengineer]

I'm not sure what you're saying. i was hospitalized last year during the election while thinking that the gov. was after me, reporting a coworker as a terrorist (def not a terrorist) etc. i could go on.

actually i will go on:

reported the nicest guy to HR (he's fine) was on the verge of suicide, then thought "people" were after me and just completely flipped shit. family member kindly allowed me to stay at their home and then took me to the hospital the following day where i checked myself in.

[limeblack]

Psychosis is not required to have a diagnosis of bipolar and frankly I do not personally believe that it should be included in bipolar(it should be a separate diagnosis). IMO and many other psychologists opinions is that bipolar by the general public is often viewed as a mood disorder(not the psychosis part).

[cassowary37]

The genetics would argue otherwise. Here's an interesting recent illustration: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29167880

[limeblack]

No. That article proves my point exactly. Bipolar by definition currently may or may not include psychosis(there is no way for the medical provider to distinguish between the 2.) If you did not include psychosis(as the DSM does now), most people with bipolar diagnosis would actually have Schizophrenia because that is the next closest mental illness(which is why there are genetic similarities.) Bundling an angry disorder with hallucinations should not be done and was an afterthought. Actually psychologists agree with me. "psychotic features – is included almost as an afterthought. It is not one of the defining features of a manic episode. Rather, it is something that may be present.[1]"

[1]: http://behaviorismandmentalhealth.com/2009/09/06/bipolar-dis...

[bipolarengineer]

regardless, i had some sort of psychotic attack which lasted for several days along with a list of other symptoms which are fully documented, observed and on record. i have hardly been able to hold a job since that event and am stumbling through life.