Patients who present with obvious symptoms of BPAD,
such as mania, are typically diagnosed with BP I and often
see psychiatry quickly because of their erratic and/or
psychotic behavior. However, there is a wide spectrum of
BPADs aside from BP I. It is these patients who usually
present in a depressive or mixed state and become a challenge
to diagnose. PCPs should be educated on the available
screening tools for BPAD, familiarizing themselves
with one or two tools to use regularly in the clinic. It is
reasonable to suggest that each patient who presents with
depressive symptoms or complaints of depression should
be screened for BPAD. The negative outcomes for placing
patients with BPAD on single antidepressive medication
therapy carry significantly high risks. More research
is needed to ascertain which BPAD screening tool would
be most suitable and beneficial in primary care.