Did you know?

In standard psychiatric practice, bipolar disorder and psychosis are diagnosed based on observed symptoms. Modern neuroscience shows that both are often related to altered communication across large-scale brain networks rather than a single “problem area.” Research highlights disrupted coordination between the Salience Network (assigning importance to stimuli), the Default Mode Network (internal thought and meaning-making), and the Frontoparietal Control Network (reality testing and regulation). In bipolar disorder, overall network organization may become unstable—sometimes described as less efficient or less balanced (connections are linear or path-like)—while in psychosis, abnormal signaling between these networks can lead to misinterpretation of internal or external experiences. Different combinations of affected networks help explain why psychosis and bipolar disorder can look very different from person to person and may occur with or without mood symptoms.

So what does this mean?

Psychosis and bipolar disorder are often treated as if every person is the same; and treatments often involve many unwanted side effects. Understanding the underlying causes helps explain why some medications help while others worsen symptoms—and why careful, individualized planning is essential rather than one-size-fits-all treatment.