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Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder

By: Dane Masters The manic depressive condition is better known as bipolar disorder, which is usually not very easy to diagnose. Flux, is one of the main symptoms. It is common for patients with this condition to see many changes and fluctuations related to their moods, thinking pattern and behavior.
There are many sub-types of the bipolar disorder. These subtypes of bipolar condition are phases of constant change, and a person might remain in one subtype or keep fluctuating between different subtypes.
There are four basic clinical types of bipolar illness. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, IV-TR, lays down diagnostic and categorization criteria for bipolar disorder. These are Bipolar I, Bipola II, Cyclothymia, and Non-specific Bipolar Disorder.
The diagnosis for Bipolar I includes episodes of manic or mixed symptomatic behavior. Although a depressive episode is not compulsory for diagnosis, such depression is common in patients with this bipolar disorder category.
If a patient displays at least a single episode each of hypomania and depression, then the condition is diagnosed as Bipolar II.
A diagnosis of Cyclothymic Disorder requires the presence of numerous hypomanic episodes, intermingled with depressive episodes that aren't up to the full criteria that characterizes a full depressive episode. The main point of Cyclothymia is that there is a low grade cycling of moods which seems to be a personality trait to a casual observer, but is really a form of bipolar that interferes with normal functioning.
Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified is the last type, wherein the characteristics include mood swings with highs and lows, but the patient does not fulfill other diagnostic criteria for any other subtypes.
Most bipolar patients will be depressed when they first seek help, and it is easy for these patients to be misdiagnosed as having just clinical depression. It is important for practicioners to investigate with the patient, and his or her family and friends to determine if a manic or hypomanic episode has ever occurred.

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Dane Masters is an accomplished niche website developer and author. for more about Anger And Depression, please visit Anger Management Ideas for current articles and discussions.

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