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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.
What's distinct about bipolar disorder is that the individual here also experiences hypomanic or manic symptoms. Hypomanic symptoms may involve elevated mood, grandiose thinking, rapid speech and decreased sleep need. And in hypomania these symptoms last for at least three days. If somebody cycles between hypomania and depression, we diagnosis them as having bipolar II disorder. Bipolar I disorder is the more severe form of bipolar disorder, in which all of the symptoms of hypomania are present only in a more severe form and for at least a week.