Voices in bipolar disorder?
"There are multiple research studies showing that "voices" can be part of manic (or even psychotic depressed) phases. Goodwin and Jamison published a nifty summary of this in 1990, reviewing 26 different research studies. Their table below shows you, for every 100 patients with clear bipolar mania, how many (what "Frequency") had that symptom, on average, over the 26 studies. Notice that "auditory hallucinations" were seen in 18 out of every 100 patients with mania -- not common, but definitely there. The "range" means that voices were part of mania in48% of the patients in one study (although as rare as only 7%in another study)"

Symptom Frequency(%) Range (%)

Grandiose 47 35-60
delusions

Persecutory/ 28 18-65
paranoid delusions

Auditory 18 7-48
hallucinations

Schneiderian 1st 18 9-34
rank symptoms

"The "Schneiderian" thing means bizarre psychotic symptoms like "thought broadcasting" -- the sense that others can read one's thoughts. The point is the same: there is no doubt that all common forms of psychosis can be part of bipolar disorder. Thus it is not possible to tell "bipolar" from "schizophrenia" on the basis of the types of psychotic symptoms. Instead, one must rely on the presence (now, or in the past) of mood stuff like depression. If someone has psychosis with no history of mood symptoms, they are more likely to have a more schizophrenic-like version of psychosis -- but the best way to tell is to look at several years worth of symptoms, not just symptoms at one particular time. For this, we usually need a family member's help with the "history"."

"Hope that helps.
Dr. Phelps"

http://www.bipolarworld.net/Phelps/ph_2000/ph28.htm