In bipolar disorder patients are intermittently severely ill and unable to function, but they usually return to their normally functioning self. The extremes of symptoms and experiences require intensive specialist care,  but the overall success of management will depend on an informed and complementary interaction between primary and secondary care. Bipolar disorder is at least twice as common as schizophrenia, and eminently treatable. It is perfectly suited to the well established outpatient model practised in general practice.