Bipolar II and Bipolar Spectrum Disorder Table 2. A proposed definition of bipolar spectrum disorder

Home

Articles

Resources

About us

Quick Tips

Educational materials

Find us again!
Click here, then add the page to your Favorites or Bookmarks.

Over 250 articles on:

Mood, anxiety
Treatments
Medications
Lifestyles
Personal stories

Moodletter provides information, hope and help to people living with depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder and those who care for them.

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.

Bipolar II and bipolar spectrum disorder
Table 2. A proposed definition of bipolar spectrum disorder
Return to Bipolar II article

Have you read these?

Educational materials
for providers and
group facilitators.

A. At least one major depressive episode

B. No spontaneous hypomanic or manic episodes

C. Either of the following, plus at least 2 items from criterion D, or both of the following plus 1 item from criterion D:
1. A family history of bipolar disorder in a first-degree relative
2. Antidepressant-induced mania or hypomania

D. If no items from criterion C are present, 6 of the following 9 criteria are needed:
1. Hyperthymic personality (at baseline, nondepressed state)
2. Recurrent major depressive episodes (> 3)
3. Brief major depressive episodes (on average, < 3 months)
4. Atypical depressive symptoms (DSM-IV criteria)
5. Psychotic major depressive episodes
6. Early age of onset of major depressive episode (< age 25)
7. Postpartum depression
8. Antidepressant "wear-off" (acute but not prophylactic response)
9. Lack of response to 3 antidepressant treatment trials

The relation of these clues to bipolarity is well documented in the literature.

Bipolar II and the Bipolar Spectrum
What is hypomania?

Page updated March 1, 2011