My pdoc has mentioned possiblity of bipolar to me for a long time. Today she said that because I just had a manic episode and then a mixed episode, that I was "classic bipolar spectrum". However I did not ask for any other details (like Bipolar 1 or 2, etc.). Then when I left she gave me a prescription for an EKG and she wrote on it: 297.53 then I looked at her bill and she checked off "Bipolar I, last episode unspecified, severe, w/o psych" . I agree now that I am bipolar however don't know how she got the "severe" part. Does anyone know how doctors judge mild, moderate, severe? Severe seems just too much. I've never been hospitalized and the manic episode was not that bad compared to others I've heard about. I know I can ask her next time but thats in 5 weeks. Does anyone know how severe it has to be to be "severe"?