F31.10 clinical information
Bipolar disorder is a major affective disorder characterized by sudden and intense mood swings. A manic episode is when a person with bipolar disorder feels energized to the point that they are up and willing to go out and about. People who are manic can also be irritable.
A person may also experience major depressive episodes where they feel worthless, empty, and at worst, despair. They also become indifferent to almost everything, if not all. Some people with bipolar disorder experience both moods at once.
If a patient is suspected of having a manic bipolar disorder episode, they will likely have the following symptoms:
- They feel jumpy
- They have racing thoughts
- They talk fast and loudly
- They are up and have this desire to be out and about
- They sleep less or don't need that much sleep
- They feel self-important (in varying degrees)
- They are highly irritable
- They are prone to doing things excessively or engaging in risky activities
To determine if a patient has bipolar disorder, healthcare professionals and providers will conduct physical exams and psychiatric assessments.
Once it is confirmed that the patient has bipolar disorder, they're currently in a manic episode, and they don't have any psychotic features (delusions, auditory/visual hallucinations, etc.). However, if the severity of the disorder is not specified, then this ICD-10 code can be used.
Treatment will depend on the severity of the patient, so it's best to determine how adverse the bipolar disorder is.
