Posted by rainbowbrite on January 12, 2005, at 9:41:56
In reply to Hi everyone, Need some help. PLEASE, posted by horndhalo on January 9, 2005, at 9:49:28
these are from 2 different websites. I hope they are helpful:
How doctors define bipolar disorder
Doctors have identified four different forms of bipolar disorder:
Bipolar I disorder—Recurring manic episodes or mixed episodes, and often one or more episodes of depression.
Bipolar II disorder—Depression that alternates with a milder form of mania called "hypomania."Cyclothymic disorder—Moods that shift between short periods of mild mania and mild depression. (Many people with cyclothymia may later develop a more severe form of bipolar illness.)
Bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (NOS)—Any form of the illness that doesn't fit the above definitions (e.g., recurring hypomania with no depressive symptoms).
http://www.bipolardisorder.com/understanding/whatIs.jsp?reqNavId=1.2
Is there such a thing as "atypical bipolar disorder"? Is it just a commonly used phrase for bipolar disorder NOS (not otherwise specified)?
Bipolar Disorder NOS (not otherwise specified) covers a poorly defined and broad array of possibilities--essentially any type of bipolar-like condition that does not fit criteria for the standard diagnoses. One example would be an individual who does not meet formal DSM-IV criteria for hypomania (which requires at least four days duration) but does show periods of mood elevation lasting, say, two days at a time.
Other examples are given on p. 366 of the DSM-IV (1994) text. A lot of clinicians probably speak casually of atypical bipolar disorder, whereas they would code it as Bipolar Disorder NOS on an official form. There is also the concept of the Bipolar Spectrum, which is even broader than Bipolar NOS-for information on that, you might read the paper by Hagop Akiskal (Akiskal HS: The prevalent clinical spectrum of bipolar disorders: beyond DSM IV. J Clin Psychopharmacol 1996; 16[suppl 1]:4-14.).
http://www.mhsource.com/expert/exp1042803c.html
Try searching bipolar disorder NOS, alot more information comes up
poster:rainbowbrite
thread:439701
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/newbs/20041227/msgs/441107.html