DSM in Pictures: Bipolar 1
A visual guide to the DSM criteria, made to share with your clients
Diagnosis can feel mysterious. The criteria live in a manual most clients never see, and bipolar I is one of the more confusing entries, because the diagnosis sits inside another set of criteria for manic episodes. This resource is meant to help demystify what goes into a bipolar I diagnosis.
DSM in Pictures: Bipolar I walks through the diagnostic criteria visually, one criterion at a time. It translates the clinical language of the DSM into images and plain explanations, so the people you work with can see how bipolar I is defined, how the manic episode criteria nest inside it, and what each piece is pointing at.
The Clinical Edition comes with a license that lets you bring it directly into your work. You can use it when explaining bipolar I to clients or walking through how they meet criteria.
What it is
A visual, image-forward guide to the DSM-5 criteria for bipolar I disorder, created by Dr. Megan Anna Neff, a neurodivergent clinical psychologist who builds visual resources.
It uses the direct language of the DSM for educational accuracy.
What’s inside
- A map of how the criteria fit together: Bipolar I Criteria A and B, and how they require meeting the full Manic Episode criteria
- Manic Episode Criterion A explained visually: the elevated, expansive, or irritable mood and the change in energy, including the one-week duration
- Manic Episode Criterion B: the symptom list, from decreased need for sleep and racing thoughts to risk-taking and distractibility
- Manic Episode Criterion C, with a note on what distinguishes mania from hypomania: the impairment is significant enough to be disabling
- Manic Episode Criterion D and Bipolar I Criterion B: ruling out substances, medical causes, and other explanations
- An overview of the specifiers, including mixed features, rapid cycling, peripartum onset, seasonal pattern, and more
Who it’s for
Clinicians, assessors, and coaches who want a clear, affirming psychoeducation tool to use in session, and a way to demystify what goes into a bipolar I diagnosis.
It is especially useful for clients who process visually, who find the nested criteria confusing, or who are trying to understand the line between a manic and a hypomanic episode.
What the Clinical License allows
The Clinical + Commercial License is built for use with your own clients. With it, you can:
- Share PDF copies with your clients through secure, private links or email
- Print copies for in-person sessions
- Screen share during telehealth or coaching
- Fold the resource into your ongoing clinical or coaching work
The license covers one provider. Group settings like therapy groups are fine. For group practices or multiple-provider licenses, you can reach the team at support@neurodivergentinsights.com.
Format and access
A digital PDF download, designed to be read on screen, printed, or shared.
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