Posted by polarbear206 on May 11, 2007, at 11:20:10
In reply to Re: NIMH on Bipolar Spectrum Disorder » polarbear206, posted by linkadge on May 10, 2007, at 16:54:05
> >The average person will not get a proper diagnosis for about 10 years
>
> I don't know how those types of statistics are arrived at.
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> I just see it as the latest trend. Its a trend to try and compensate for both the lack of efficacy and outpourings of adverse reactions to antidepressants.
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> Back in the day, bipolar meant *BIPOLAR*. Now we've got all this inbetween fluff, where everybody and their monkey's uncle can fit into the bipolar diagnosis. It all fits nicely with a trend towards the latest trendy meds abilify, seroquel, lamictal etc.
>
> Symptoms that *used* to fit under the umbrella of depression (irritability, anxiety, racing mind) are being thrown into bipolar now, just for the sake of it. (or because current antidepressants often exasperate things like agitation etc.)
>
>
> Linkadge
>
>
>Link,
If you do a search at pub/med on Akiskal, there is an abundant amount of literature about past time spans with undiagnosed bipolar disorders. There are also books written by highly respected psychiatrist in the field who recognize this occurs. Akiskal and others have been doing research on broading the boundaries of bipolar disorders for years, and finally the word is getting out there. I'm not arguing with you that there isn't any validity in what you are saying. For many people, drugs just don't work, and they shouldn't be lumped into the bipolar mix. Hopefully you an others will benefit from future drugs to come, which is not soon enough.
Polarbear
poster:polarbear206
thread:757178
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070509/msgs/757774.html