Posted by SLS on July 23, 2004, at 18:00:06
In reply to Major Depression May Be Relative of Bipolar Disord, posted by jrbecker on July 21, 2004, at 9:28:08
Perhaps unipolar and bipolar disorders are not so much related etiologically as they are just similar in outward appearance. When does a unipolar become a bipolar? The moment he displays mania or hypomania? Right? The point is, he was never unipolar. I think the diagnosticians get a little too nutty with the way they try to enforce the rigid definitions contained in the DSM.
I bet there is a tendency for bipolar depression to be subtly, but consistently different from unipolar depression in its expression. Basically, I think bipolar depression resembles anergic atypical unipolar depression except that there is no mood reactivity.
Some people with bipolar disorder might never express mania. However, their depression might not respond sufficiently to years of antidepressant treatment until someone gets the bright idea of adding a mood stabilizer.
I don't know. I have an open mind.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:368550
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040719/msgs/369668.html