Bipolar spectrum
Encyclopedia
The bipolar spectrum refers to a category of mood disorders that feature abnormally elevated or depressed mood. These disorders range from bipolar I disorder
, featuring full-blown manic
episodes, to cyclothymia
, featuring less prominent hypomanic episodes, to "subsyndromal" conditions where only some of the criteria for mania or hypomania are met. These disorders typically also involve depressive symptoms or episodes that alternate with the elevated mood states, or with mixed episodes that feature symptoms of both.
The concept of the bipolar spectrum
is similar to that of Emil Kraepelin
's original concept of manic depressive illness. Currently, manic depressive illness is usually referred to as bipolar disorder
or bipolar.
Points on the spectrum using this nomenclature are denoted using the following codes:
Thus, mD represents a case with hypomania and major depression. A further distinction is sometimes made in the ordering of the letters, to represent the order of the episodes, where the patient's normal state is euthymic
, interrupted by episodes of mania followed by depression (MD) or vice versa (DM).
Employing this schema, major depression would be denoted D. Unipolar mania (M) is, depending on the authority cited, either very rare, or nonexistent with such cases actually being Md.
Unipolar hypomania (m) without accompanying depression has been noted in the medical literature. There is speculation as to whether this condition may occur with greater frequency in the general, untreated population; successful social function of these potentially high-achieving individuals may lead to being labeled as normal, rather than as individuals suffering any substantial dysregulation.
Bipolar I disorder
Bipolar I disorder is a mood disorder that is characterized by at least one manic or mixed episode. There may be episodes of hypomania or major depression as well...
, featuring full-blown manic
Manic
Manić is a suburban settlement of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in the municipality of Barajevo.Manić developed on the eastern slopes of the Kosmaj mountain...
episodes, to cyclothymia
Cyclothymia
Cyclothymia is a mood and mental disorder in the bipolar spectrum that causes both hypomanic and depressive episodes. It is defined medically within the bipolar spectrum and consists of recurrent disturbances between sudden hypomania and dysthymic episodes. The diagnosis of cyclothymic disorder is...
, featuring less prominent hypomanic episodes, to "subsyndromal" conditions where only some of the criteria for mania or hypomania are met. These disorders typically also involve depressive symptoms or episodes that alternate with the elevated mood states, or with mixed episodes that feature symptoms of both.
The concept of the bipolar spectrum
Spectrum disorder
A spectrum in psychiatry is a range of linked conditions, such that there is "not a unitary disorder but rather a syndrome composed of subgroups". The subgroups may be linked together by clinical appearance or by shared underlying causation...
is similar to that of Emil Kraepelin
Emil Kraepelin
Emil Kraepelin was a German psychiatrist. H.J. Eysenck's Encyclopedia of Psychology identifies him as the founder of modern scientific psychiatry, as well as of psychopharmacology and psychiatric genetics. Kraepelin believed the chief origin of psychiatric disease to be biological and genetic...
's original concept of manic depressive illness. Currently, manic depressive illness is usually referred to as bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
or bipolar.
Referential nomenclature
A simple nomenclature system was introduced in 1978 by Angst, J., et al., to classify more easily individuals' affectedness within the spectrum, following a clinical study by the Psychiatric University Clinic of Zürich.Points on the spectrum using this nomenclature are denoted using the following codes:
- M—severe maniaManiaMania, the presence of which is a criterion for certain psychiatric diagnoses, is a state of abnormally elevated or irritable mood, arousal, and/ or energy levels. In a sense, it is the opposite of depression...
- D—severe depression (unipolar depression)
- m—less severe mania (hypomaniaHypomaniaHypomania is a mood state characterized by persistent and pervasive elevated or irritable mood, as well as thoughts and behaviors that are consistent with such a mood state...
) - d—less severe depression
Thus, mD represents a case with hypomania and major depression. A further distinction is sometimes made in the ordering of the letters, to represent the order of the episodes, where the patient's normal state is euthymic
Euthymia (medicine)
Euthymia is a word used for indicating a normal non-depressed, reasonably positive mood. It is distinguished from euphoria, which refers to an extreme of happiness, and dysthymia, which refers to a depressed mood...
, interrupted by episodes of mania followed by depression (MD) or vice versa (DM).
Employing this schema, major depression would be denoted D. Unipolar mania (M) is, depending on the authority cited, either very rare, or nonexistent with such cases actually being Md.
Unipolar hypomania (m) without accompanying depression has been noted in the medical literature. There is speculation as to whether this condition may occur with greater frequency in the general, untreated population; successful social function of these potentially high-achieving individuals may lead to being labeled as normal, rather than as individuals suffering any substantial dysregulation.