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Bipolar Blog

Expanding the Bipolar Spectrum – A Potentially Dangerous Game

In today’s post on the Bipolar Beat entitled “Increasing Rates of Bipolar Diagnosis: Pros and Cons,” I discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the sudden and dramatic rise in the diagnosis of bipolar disorder over the past two decades. On the plus side, the increase probably means that more people who need help are getting [...]

Posted on September 25, 2008 Filed Under Children, Diagnosis | 6 Comments

Antidepressant as First-Line Treatment for Bipolar Disorder?

According to the results of a recent survey conducted by Decision Resources (“one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues”), 52.3 percent of newly diagnosed bipolar disorder patients are prescribed antidepressant drugs first line. (See the press release “Astonishing 52 Percent of Newly Diagnosed Bipolar Disorder Patients Receive [...]

Posted on August 18, 2008 Filed Under Antidepressant, Diagnosis, Medications | 5 Comments

Bipolar Diagnosis on the Rise: Pros and Cons

In a recent article in Westchester Magazine entitled “I’m Bipolar. He’s Bipolar. You’re Bipolar,” Carol Hall ponders the following: “Sometimes it may seem as if everyone is bipolar. Is this a real condition – or just a fashionable diagnosis?” Although this question is likely to ruffle the feathers of anyone who’s had to deal with [...]

Posted on May 2, 2008 Filed Under Diagnosis, In the News | 6 Comments

Beware of Diagnosis by Prescription

Recently on Yahoo! Answers, a member posted a question asking whether bipolar disorder can be misdiagnosed as depression. This is an excellent question, and it made me think that we should post something on this important issue. The answer is yes; bipolar disorder can be and often is misdiagnosed as depression. This could be a [...]

Posted on April 3, 2008 Filed Under Bipolar Depression, Diagnosis, Medications | 10 Comments

The Tragic Tale of Rebecca Riley

On Sunday September 30, the CBS news program 60 Minutes aired a report entitled “Who Killed Rebecca Riley.” The piece explores the tragic death of four-year old Rebecca Riley due to an overdose of psychiatric medications. In the story, Katie Couric explains how Rebecca had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of three [...]

Posted on October 3, 2007 Filed Under Children, Diagnosis, Treatment, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

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