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Diagnosing bipolar disorder : how can we do it better?

Version 2 2024-06-02, 13:07
Version 1 2014-10-28, 09:21
journal contribution
posted on 2006-05-01, 00:00 authored by Michael BerkMichael Berk, Lesley BerkLesley Berk, Seetal DoddSeetal Dodd, K Moss, G Malhi
• Accurate diagnosis of bipolar disorder is essential for effective treatment.

• The diagnosis of bipolar disorder is particularly complex, resulting in lengthy delays between first presentation and initiation of appropriate therapy. Inappropriate therapy destabilises the course and outcome of the disease.

• Although the defining features of bipolar disorder are manic or hypomanic episodes, patients typically present for treatment of depression and commonly deny symptoms of mood elevation.

• A correct diagnosis can easily be masked by comorbidities, personality issues and complex phenomenology.

• A diagnosis of bipolar disorder can be assisted by:

   → asking about symptoms of mania or hypomania in every patient presenting with symptoms of depression.

   → recognising mixed states in which manic and depressive symptoms occur simultaneously.

   → identifying the features of bipolar depression that distinguish it from unipolar depression.

• There is a risk of over-diagnosis of bipolar disorder among patients who are histrionic, show abnormal illness behaviour MJA 2006; 184: 459–462 and/or have issues of secondary gain.

History

Journal

Medical journal of Australia

Volume

184

Issue

9

Pagination

459 - 462

Publisher

Australasian Medical Publishing Company

Location

Strawberry Hills, N. S. W.

ISSN

0025-729X

eISSN

1326-5377

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2006, Australasian Medical Publishing Company

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