Priority 31 from the Bipolar PSP

UNCERTAINTY:Is it possible to fully recover from bipolar and live a ‘normal’ life, or are people always affected throughout their lives? (JLA PSP Priority 31)
Overall ranking 31
JLA question ID 0041/31
Explanatory note Not available for this PSP.
Evidence

None identified

Health Research Classification System category Mental Health
Extra information provided by this PSP
Original uncertainty examples For full examples, see Category ID O1 on spreadsheet.  Can a person have a 'bout of bipolar' and then get better? Or is it a 'forever meds' predicament? ~ How can you be sure it will last for a lifetime? ~ I am very interested in the answers to whether bipolar is lifelong I am seventy two and a couple of years ago stopped taking my mood stabilisers because I thought I had got over it and it had burned itself out. I was very wrong and quickly became psychotic. ~ Will it always have a hold on my life to the extent of not functioning normally? ~ Can you overcome triggers and become truly stable? ~ What should a young person (16) expect their life and future to look like with bi-polar? ~ What proportion of sufferers recover fully?
Submitted by Patients x 417 ~ Carers x 31 ~ Health Professionals x 49 ~ others x 32
PSP information
PSP unique ID 0041
PSP name Bipolar
Total number of uncertainties identified by this PSP. 363  (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop 14 June 2016