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People with bipolar disorder who have psychotic symptoms may be wrongly diagnosed as having schizophrenia. Mania. To be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a person must have experienced mania or hypomania. Hypomania is a milder form of mania that doesn't include psychotic episodes.People with hypomania can often function normally in social situations or at work. Most people diagnosed with bipolar I will have episodes of both mania and depression, though an episode of depression is not necessary for a diagnosis. 2  To be diagnosed with bipolar I, a personâs manic or mixed episodes must last at least seven days or be so severe that he requires hospitalization.
However, the mood is not as extreme as full-fledged mania, and these patients never experience hallucinations or delusions during a hypomanic episode. Bipolar II disorder is more common in women. In men, the number of hypomanic episodes usually equals or exceeds the number of depressive episodes.