(SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2019) MPS Code: 3278

In modern medicine, bipolar disorder is clearly defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5^th  Edition as a mood disorder that is characterized by episodes of mania, hypomania and major depression. These episodes may be independent or mixed with symptoms from one another. Individualized treatment according to clinical presentation, severity and frequency of episodes for bipolar disorder is necessary as it may vary widely among patients. It is the purpose of this article to raise awareness on the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder amongst pharmacists, thereby arming pharmacists with the knowledge in identifying bipolar disorders among patients and referring them to a psychiatrist for evaluation.