Bipolar Signs and Symptoms
...major depressive episode. 2. No spontaneous hypomanic or manic episodes. (8) 3. A family history of bipolar disorder in a first degree relative. 4. Antidepressant-induced mania or hypomania. 5. Atypical depressive symptoms. 6. Psychotic major depressive episodes. 7. Postpartum depression. (10) Since bipolar deals with depression, misdiagnosis or mistreatment, it can be life threatening or fatal. The release of new medication may help increase the diagnosis of the illness. “A recent review of six studies done since 1978 suggests that broadening the bipolar diagnostic criteria to include other aspects of the bipolar spectrum yields a higher prevalence range (3.0% to 8.8%)” (4). Bipolar symptoms are very broad which makes diagnosis difficult, and treatment experimental. “Hypomania is mainly distinguished from mania based on function rather than symptoms.” (5). Given this situation, “hypomania may be under diagnosed as normality, and mania may be under diagnosed as hypomania.” (5). The thought of using antidepressants to treat bipolar has been proven wrong in numerous studies. When followed prospectively, “many adult patients with antidepressant associated hypomania are found to progress to bipolar states with spontaneous mania or hypomania months or years later.”(5). One study was done over the observation period of eleven years showing the collaborative depression study turned into bipolar II. “At study entry, both the early onset of age twenty-five, as well as recurrent depression seemed to characterize those who switched from unipolar to bipolar II depression.” (5). Patients with bipolar were shown to “have a history of psychotic depression.” (5). There is no proven evidence that antidepressants have helped in the treatment of this disorder. It is possible they may actually cause more mood episodes over time. “Conversely, there is significant evidence of iatrogenic worsen...