Posted by banga on December 8, 2004, at 11:22:06
In reply to Just Diagnosed with Bipolar II--What is it?, posted by BRC on December 8, 2004, at 9:56:31
Technically, Bipolar II is a condition that is diagnosed if you have recurring periods of Major Depression, and at least one episode of hypomania in your past. Hypomanic episode is defined as follows:
A distinct period of persistently elevated, expansive or irritable mood, lasting throughout at least 4 days, that is clearly different from the nondepressed mood.
During the disturbance, 3 or more of the following have been present (4 if the mood is only irritable):
-inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
-decreased need for sleep
-more talkative than usual, or pressure to keep talking
-flight of ideas
-distractability
-increase ingoal-directed activity (either socially, at work or school, or sexually) or psychomotor agitation
-excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., person engages in buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, foolish business practices)* the episode is associated with unequivocal change in functioning that is uncharacteristic of the person when not symptomatic
A hallmark of both mania and hypomania is experiencing racing thoughts...I wonder if it is not listed here for the exact reason that this may be confused with anxiety-based rumination....But having said all this, the definition of Bipolar II has been quite diluted in recent years--a lot of laxing the rules of what constitutes hypomania, I think generally considering racing thoughts and agitation enough to consider it a subhypomanic state--that even though the person doesnt fit criteria for a hypomanic episode,
biologically speaking they are Bipolar II, and would be helped by a mood stabilizer.
I am actually in a similar boat right now. After years of treatment for depression, we are stepping back and considering Bipolar II. I have relentless, horrible ruminative thoughts. Both Bipolar and unipolar depression run in my family. I just started a mood stabilizer--Lamictal--and it seems to be helping, I feel more relaxed and balanced. Still too early to tell, though.In any case, good luck to you.
poster:banga
thread:426121
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041206/msgs/426144.html