Comments on: Bipolar Diagnosis on the Rise: Pros and Cons http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/diagnosis/bipolar-diagnosis-on-the-rise-pros-and-cons.html Information and support Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:42:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jennifer http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/diagnosis/bipolar-diagnosis-on-the-rise-pros-and-cons.html/comment-page-1#comment-1768 Jennifer Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:26:13 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/diagnosis/bipolar-diagnosis-on-the-rise-pros-and-cons.html#comment-1768 Candida Fink says the following: "The professional criteria for diagnosing bipolar disorder have expanded with the publication of the 1994 edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). The addition of the Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified category opened up a much larger range of mood regulation difficulties to being diagnosed as a bipolar variant." However, Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified existed already in DSM-III-R. With DSM-IV the diagnosis "Bipolar II" was added. I hope this information was helpful, Candida. Candida Fink says the following:

“The professional criteria for diagnosing bipolar disorder have expanded with the publication of the 1994 edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). The addition of the Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified category opened up a much larger range of mood regulation difficulties to being diagnosed as a bipolar variant.”

However, Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified existed already in DSM-III-R. With DSM-IV the diagnosis “Bipolar II” was added. I hope this information was helpful, Candida.

]]> By: Joe http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/diagnosis/bipolar-diagnosis-on-the-rise-pros-and-cons.html/comment-page-1#comment-1218 Joe Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:41:03 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/diagnosis/bipolar-diagnosis-on-the-rise-pros-and-cons.html#comment-1218 I agree with Jim. If your sister does have bipolar disorder, taking an antidepressant without the protection of a mood stabilizer could trigger mania or make it worse. A doctor who has experience treating depression and mania is better qualified to tell whether your sister is experiencing unipolar or bipolar depression (or something else) before prescribing medications. We posted a sample chapter from our book <em>Bipolar Disorder For Dummies</em> on the blog: <a href="http://finkshrink.com/blog/sample-chapter-bipolar-disorder-for-dummies" rel="nofollow">Chapter 5, "Getting a Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment Plan."</a> The information in this chapter could help ensure that your sister obtains an accurate diagnosis, which is key to obtaining the right treatment. I agree with Jim. If your sister does have bipolar disorder, taking an antidepressant without the protection of a mood stabilizer could trigger mania or make it worse. A doctor who has experience treating depression and mania is better qualified to tell whether your sister is experiencing unipolar or bipolar depression (or something else) before prescribing medications.

We posted a sample chapter from our book Bipolar Disorder For Dummies on the blog: Chapter 5, “Getting a Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment Plan.” The information in this chapter could help ensure that your sister obtains an accurate diagnosis, which is key to obtaining the right treatment.

]]> By: Jim Dnn http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/diagnosis/bipolar-diagnosis-on-the-rise-pros-and-cons.html/comment-page-1#comment-1207 Jim Dnn Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:53:41 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/diagnosis/bipolar-diagnosis-on-the-rise-pros-and-cons.html#comment-1207 Daisy i think your sister should be checked out by a physcian ----------------------------------------- Jim Dunn http://www.dualdiagnosis.net/ Daisy i think your sister should be checked out by a physcian
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Jim Dunn

http://www.dualdiagnosis.net/

]]> By: daisy rhodes http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/diagnosis/bipolar-diagnosis-on-the-rise-pros-and-cons.html/comment-page-1#comment-1206 daisy rhodes Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:49:49 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/diagnosis/bipolar-diagnosis-on-the-rise-pros-and-cons.html#comment-1206 my sister was currently put on anti-depressants coz we suspect that she is bi-polar,do you think the condition will get worse? my sister was currently put on anti-depressants coz we suspect that she is bi-polar,do you think the condition will get worse?

]]> By: Dr. Fink http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/diagnosis/bipolar-diagnosis-on-the-rise-pros-and-cons.html/comment-page-1#comment-1100 Dr. Fink Fri, 23 May 2008 15:06:57 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/diagnosis/bipolar-diagnosis-on-the-rise-pros-and-cons.html#comment-1100 Hi Larry - I don't know the name of the psychiatrist you are referring to off the top of my head - but I am aware of the literature that is looking at expanding bipolar disorder into more of a bipolar spectrum diagnosis. It is somewhat controversial actually - there are a number of people who are not sure that this is particularly helpful - at least not necessarily putting all of the mood regulation disorders into the category of bipolar. Bipolar has traditionally referred to a very specific set of symptoms - and expanding it into people who are reactive and dysregulated is a a big topic of discussion. I am hopeful that with time we will have more information on the underlying neuropathology - with imaging, biochemical and genetic data - that will take us from being solely descriptive in the DSM IV - and just trusting our instinct and general patterns - to being much more scientific about it. So the answer I think is - stay tuned for lots more information to explode onto the scene in the next few years. Take care - Candida Fink MD Hi Larry –
I don’t know the name of the psychiatrist you are referring to off the top of my head – but I am aware of the literature that is looking at expanding bipolar disorder into more of a bipolar spectrum diagnosis. It is somewhat controversial actually – there are a number of people who are not sure that this is particularly helpful – at least not necessarily putting all of the mood regulation disorders into the category of bipolar. Bipolar has traditionally referred to a very specific set of symptoms – and expanding it into people who are reactive and dysregulated is a a big topic of discussion. I am hopeful that with time we will have more information on the underlying neuropathology – with imaging, biochemical and genetic data – that will take us from being solely descriptive in the DSM IV – and just trusting our instinct and general patterns – to being much more scientific about it.
So the answer I think is – stay tuned for lots more information to explode onto the scene in the next few years.
Take care -

Candida Fink MD

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