This 4-week course will provide participants with practical recommendations focusing on improving their skills and their approach towards the diagnosis BD. Key aspects of the nosology, psychiatric history, and mental status examination of interest for the diagnosis of BD will be discussed, with a focus on non-typical presentations of BD and its differential diagnosis with other mental disorders, particularly borderline personality disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Cognitive errors that may contribute to the misdiagnosis of BD will be critically analyzed. The rationale use of screening instruments and their potential pitfalls will be debated. Last, clinical vignettes and interactive diagnostic exercises will be utilized to illustrate the challenges in the differential diagnosis of BD.
Format
4 asynchronous modules and a live panel discussion on September 18, 2025 from 3-4PM ET.
Learning Objectives:
- Appreciate the challenges involved in the diagnosis of bipolar disorder and its differential with other conditions, such as borderline personality disorder and attention-deficit/hyper
- Apply practical approaches focusing on improving the differential diagnosis of bipolar disorder
- Critically analyze examples of challenging clinical situations involving the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
References
- Afzal T, Hipolito JL, Jin L. A Systematic Review of Misdiagnosis of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder: Assessments and Recommendations.
- Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol. 2024;52(5):659-670.
Correa da Costa S, Sanches M, Soares JC. Bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder? Current Psychiatry 2019; 18 (11): 27-
39
- Kouros I, Holmberg H, Ekselius L, Ramklint M. Temperament, but not childhood trauma, distinguishes borderline personality disorder
from bipolar disorder and ADHD. Nord J Psychiatry. 2024 Jan;78(1):79-86.
- Leichsenring F, Heim N, Leweke F, Spitzer C, Steinert C, Kernberg OF. Borderline Personality Disorder: A Review. JAMA. 2023 Feb
28;329(8):670-679
- Parker G, Bayes A, Spoelma MJ. Why might bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder be bonded? J Psychiatr Res. 2022
Jun;150:214-218.
- Parker G, Spoelma MJ, Tavella G. The AREDOC project and its implications for the definition and measurement of the bipolar
disorders: A summary report. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2022 Nov;56(11):1389-1397.
- Sanches, M. (2018). Bipolar disorder: How to avoid overdiagnosis. Current Psychiatry 17, 29.
- Whelehan, D.F., Conlon, K.C., Ridgway, P.F. Medicine and heuristics: cognitive biases and medical decision-making. Ir J Med Sci
2020; 189, 1477–1484
- Zimmerman M, Mackin D. Validity of the DSM-5 Mixed Features Specifier Interview. Bipolar Disord. 2024;26(5):479-487.
Target Audience
Medical Students, Resident/Fellows, Psychiatrists, Non-psychiatrist Physicians, Psychologists, Social Workers, Nurses, and other mental health professionals.
Instructional Level
Introductory, Intermediate
Estimate Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 4.0 hours
Program Start Date: August 25, 2025
Program End Date: September 19, 2025
Credit must be claimed by December 19, 2025.
Schedule:
| Release Date |
Content Type |
| August 25, 2025 |
Module 1, Asynchronous |
| September 1, 2025 |
Module 2, Asynchronous |
| Septemeber 8, 2025 |
Module 3, Asynchronous |
| September 15, 2025 |
Module 4, Asynchronous |
| September 18, 2025 |
Live Panel Discussion (3:00 - 4:00 PM ET) |
How to Earn Credit
Participants who wish to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ or a certificate of participation may do so by viewing the live presentation and completing the evaluation. After evaluating the program, course participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians) or certificate of participation (other disciplines) showing the event date and hours earned.
Continuing Education Credit
In support of improving patient care, the American Psychiatric Association is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physicians
The APA designates this live event for a maximum of 4.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Faculty and Planner Disclosures
The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity — including faculty, planners, reviewers or others — are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Instructors
- Caroline McCool, MD.
- Sabrina Da Costa, MD.
- Vineeth John, MD.
- Marsal Sanches, FAPA, MD, PhD.
Planners
- Vishal Madaan, MD, APA Deputy Medical Director, Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities
The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. Please contact the American Psychiatric Association at 202-559-3900, if you require assistance seven (7) business days prior to the start of a live webinar.
Technical Requirements
This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:
- The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
- Internet Explorer 11+
This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.
Optimal System Configuration:
- Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher
Minimum Requirements:
- Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
- Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content