Posted by Mark H. on July 9, 2001, at 20:19:07
In reply to AD-provoked hypomania - is it diagnostic?, posted by Zo on July 9, 2001, at 14:39:44
> The literature seems about evenly divided.. ..
Hi Zo,
My reading suggests the literature is divided on(but leaning toward) the hypothesis that when STARTING an anti-depressant the occurrence of a hypomanic episode may indicate bipolar disorder, but I haven't seen any references that hypomanic activity as a rebound effect from STOPPING anti-depressants has diagnostic significance. However, other respondents to your post will be better informed than I am and may recall citations regarding withdrawal and diagnosis.
As a person with Bipolar II, I can tell you that when I quit taking Effexor the first time, all of my bodily, emotional and mental systems that had been suppressed by the medication rebounded wildly. I had to put out a memo to my colleagues asking them to cut me some slack while my systems regained some equilibrium. It was far more intense than any hypomania I had experienced.
If you're wondering whether you're Bipolar II, the main things to look at are the cyclicity of your depressive episodes (for instance, my two deep troughs usually come at roughly the same two times each year), the occurrence of one or more hypomanic episodes (that are NOT attributable to withdrawal or other external stimuli), and -- by the book -- the absence of psychotic mania or mixed states (highly agitated depression).
Absent those criteria, I would guess that a hypomanic-like state caused by abrupt withdrawal would not be diagnostic, but hopefully others will have more information.
Best wishes,
Mark H.
poster:Mark H.
thread:69495
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010708/msgs/69525.html