i honestly don't see the difference. sza: tranquilizer+mood drugs bipolar I: mood drugs+tranquilizer.

i think the "professionals' " perception of the person/patient makes a big difference. my counselor is conservative. great dude, just...conservative. he leaned towards sza. my shrink is far less conservative, sees 'severe bipolar i,' w/ the psychotic stuff as an after thought.

the couple + to the bipolar I...less likely to be in forced treatment, less emphasis on the tranquilizer, more attention to quality of life and mood issues. here where i live, sza is more likely to = hospitalization, whereas bipolar i= "voluntary" treatment.

so...i dont know. i kind of view "schizophrenia" and related diagnoses as a form of invalidation, not so much a valid, useful diagnosis.