In bipolar I disorder, Major Depressive Episodes are:

In bipolar I disorder, Major Depressive Episodes are:

• A. Required for diagnosis
• B. Common in bipolar I but not required
• C. Never present
• D. Only with psychotic features

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that manic episodes drive the diagnosis of bipolar I. In bipolar I disorder, you must have at least one manic episode to meet the criteria. Major depressive episodes, while common in people with bipolar I, are not required for the diagnosis. A person can have a manic episode with or without a subsequent (or preceding) major depressive episode, and some individuals may experience mania with psychotic features, but depressive episodes are not a prerequisite. So the statement that major depressive episodes are common in bipolar I but not required best captures how the diagnosis works. The other options misstate the need for depressive episodes: mania alone suffices for bipolar I, depressive episodes are not never present, and depressive episodes are not limited to situations with psychotic features.

The key idea is that manic episodes drive the diagnosis of bipolar I. In bipolar I disorder, you must have at least one manic episode to meet the criteria. Major depressive episodes, while common in people with bipolar I, are not required for the diagnosis. A person can have a manic episode with or without a subsequent (or preceding) major depressive episode, and some individuals may experience mania with psychotic features, but depressive episodes are not a prerequisite.

So the statement that major depressive episodes are common in bipolar I but not required best captures how the diagnosis works. The other options misstate the need for depressive episodes: mania alone suffices for bipolar I, depressive episodes are not never present, and depressive episodes are not limited to situations with psychotic features.