Bipolar disorder is a debilitating and recurrent psychiatric illness characterised by episodes of mania and depression. Estimates of its prevalence vary, but it is believed to affect between 1 and 2 per cent of the UK population, ensuring that the condition often presents to physicians working in primary care. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), bipolar disorder is a leading worldwide cause of disability and is associated with a particularly high lifetime risk of suicide. The diagnosis of the condition is complicated by its variable presentation and by its comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders. As such, misdiagnosis is common and can lead to adverse outcomes from treatment. It is, therefore, vitally important that GPs are able to recognise suspected cases of bipolar disorder and refer patients to secondary care as appropriate. A variety of pharmacological treatments are available to manage the condition, whilst the use of psychological support may also prove useful in some patients. Quetiapine, is an atypical antipsychotic that is used to manage episodes of mania, either as monotherapy or as an adjunct to mood stabilisers. disorder and also as a long-term maintenance therapy for the condition, though it is currently unlicensed for these indications. As monotherapy for manic episodes of bipolar disorder, quetiapine has comparable efficacy to lithium, haloperidol and another atypical antipsychotic, olanzapine. Significant numbers of patients achieve response and remission when quetiapine is added to the mood stabilisers, lithium and valproate. Quetiapine has a favourable safety profile, with a placebo-like effect on extrapyramidal symptoms and prolactin levels, and also a favourable long-term weight profile.