Bipolar disorder
Clinical teaching and practical ideas for your next study session.
Medical Education
Actigraphy in Bipolar Sleep Assessment: Pattern, Not Diagnosis
Actigraphy can map rest and activity over time and may flag a change worth assessing, but it cannot establish that a bipolar mood episode is beginning or measure circadian phase on its own. Learn how to combine wrist data with a sleep diary, mood history, and the patient’s baseline.
Case Discussion
After the Drowsy-Driving Near-Miss: Delayed Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder, Hypnotics, and Bipolar Safety
A patient with bipolar disorder and a delayed sleep schedule has a drowsy-driving near-miss after sedative use. Learn why stronger hypnotics do not correct the underlying timing problem, how to triage driving risk, and how to advance the clock while monitoring for mood destabilization.