Bipolar Disorder is very difficult to diagnose. Psychosis disorders are hard to diagnose. Usually, psychiatrists end up treating the symptoms so a person really has to be in-touch with what's going on with themselves and be able to convey it to a doctor. I wouldn't put my mental health in the hands of a general doctor. Some Universities that teach medicine have outpatient clinics and they have sliding fees. There used to be several in Philadelphia area (ie. U of Penn). (Between 1990-92 I spent a total of about one year in psych hospitals and no one could diagnose me correctly.)