Background: Work is an important part of working individuals’ life and is an occupation to some people. A number of issues may need to be considered to support people with bipolar disorder in their workplace.

Objectives: Purpose of this study was to explore experiences people with bipolar disorder have at work and challenges they face.

Methods: A scoping review was undertaken across multiple databases to capture a broad range of literature.

Results: Results revealed the role work has in identity and recovery of people with BD.  Importance of balance and flexible working hours, potential effect of BD symptoms on work output and the lack of work continuity were identified. Various helpful strategies were reported by many individuals with BD. Potential disclosure is a challenge individuals with BD may face at work.

Conclusion

Potential disclosure and the consequences, particularly for work, were identified as important to BD individuals. Individual Placement and Support model may present a useful intervention model methods are consistent with strategies reported by BD individuals. This area is important to occupational therapists considering that one of their competencies is enabling participation in occupation. Limitations and potential bias are acknowledged.

Keywords: bipolar disorder, work, occupational therapy.