Posted by jrbecker on March 11, 2003, at 11:32:42
In reply to Re: For Dr. Bowden: More Q's on BP II » Ritch, posted by SLS on March 11, 2003, at 10:41:58
In regards to the unipolar-bipolar spectrum, this slide show presentation on soft bipolarity by Akiskal might be helpful.
http://www.wpic.pitt.edu/stanley/2ndbipconf/ppt/W404_13/sld001.htm
I have also stuggled with a possible dx of soft bipolarity. A grandparent of mine was bipolar, so it seems highly suspect. Beyond just my core atypical symptoms, they have also included irritability/agitation as well as tension and restlessness. However, I have never experienced a classic hypomanic state as described by the literature. Yet many believe that "grumpiness" can be a manifestation of hypomania as well.
Some researchers have begun to suggest other categories called "agitated depression" or "anxiety/aggression-driven depression" fitting somewhere in between bipolar II and atypical depression.Despite my suspicions, all the docs I have ever consulted with still believe I suffer from a fairly 'typical' version of atypical depression. For the most part, I tend to agree. However, it seems evident that -- as susggested by the literature -- many forms of atypical depression seem closer to the bipolar spectrum than pure unipolarity.
poster:jrbecker
thread:205791
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030310/msgs/208057.html