[Psychosis and bipolarity].

Since Kraepelin s pioneering differentiation, schizophrenia and manic-depressive psychosis have been considered distinct diseases. Research findings from different sources have found several similarities between these two disorders, casting doubts on Kraepelin s distinction. The current concept of spectrum seems to be more adequate to explain the relations between them. At the same time, a group of medicines, atypical antipsychotics, have shown interesting properties for the treatment of both affective and psychotic symptomatology.