[3] It is a type of bipolar disorder and conforms to the classic concept of manic-depressive illness, which can include psychosis during mood episodes.

[7] Serious aggression has been reported to occur in one out of every ten major, first-episode, BD-I patients with psychotic features, the prevalence in this group being particularly high in association with a recent suicide attempt, alcohol use disorder, learning disability, or manic polarity in the first episode.

In May 2013, American Psychiatric Association released the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

There are several proposed revisions to occur in the diagnostic criteria of Bipolar I Disorder and its subtypes.

Criterion B lists "inflated self-esteem, flight of ideas, distractibility, and decreased need for sleep" as symptoms of a Hypomanic Episode.

[22] A frequent problem in these individuals is non-adherence to pharmacological treatment; long-acting injectable antipsychotics may contribute to solving this issue in some patients.

[23] A review of validated treatment guidelines for bipolar disorder by international bodies was published in 2020.

[26] The natural course of BP-I, if left untreated, leads to episodes becoming more frequent or severe over time.

[28] Psychosocial interventions can be used for managing acute depressive episodes and for maintenance treatment to aid in relapse prevention.