Psychology

» jcredmond - Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder

I have a question: it seems like lately a lot of people that I am acquainted with are being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. According to what I have read, this disorder affects a relatively small percentage of the population.

Is bipolar being diagnosed too often, in that it is the new "disorder du jour" or are professionals just getting better at recognizing the symptoms?

-- posted by jcredmond

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» Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen - Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder

In response to Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder posted by jcredmond:

Hmm...I did some research, and about 3% of the US population is diagnosed with bipolar. I don't know about it being diagnosed too often -- like one hears about ADHD.

How do you research how often it's being diagnosed? I guess you could see if it's risen (the numbers diagnosed).

Interestingly, men's first experience with bipolar is with a depressive episode, while women's is with mania. Generally speaking, of course.

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» jcredmond - Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder

In response to Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder posted by LauriePK:
I suppose that if you were looking at a relatively small sample of the population, the numbers would not reflect the population at large. You're right, for awhile there it seemed like ADHD was being diagnosed right, left, and centre, and it's hard to know is all the children being diagnosed with this disorder actually have it. It could be that with more investigation, another more accurate diagnosis could be made.

It could be that I make note of the numbers because my husband happens to have bipolar disorder. He manages his symptoms by taking his medication regularly and he lives a normal life.

(If you consider living life without caffeine normal, that is!)

-- posted by jcredmond

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» Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen - Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder

In response to Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder posted by jcredmond:
What are his symptoms? Is he a classic case, swinging from mania to depression regularly?

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» jcredmond - Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder

In response to Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder posted by LauriePK:
He had times when he had trouble sleeping, had lots of energy for work and would stay up late into the night working, and was extremely irritable. In the depressive phase, he was quiet and did not want to be with other people. In between, there were periods of normal moods.

-- posted by jcredmond

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