Bipolar Disorders

Question 1

What is criterion A of a Manic episode?

Answer 1

A distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood and abnormally and persistently increased goal-directed activity or energy, lasting at least 1 week (4 days for hypomania) and present most of the day, nearly every day (or any duration if hospitalization is needed).

Question 2

What is criterion B of a Manic episode?

Answer 2

During the period of mood disturbance and increased energy or activity, three (or more) of the following symptoms (4 if mood is irritable) are present to a significant degree and represent a noticeable change from usual behavior.

Question 3

What are the symptoms of a manic episode? (DIG FAST)

Answer 3

1. Distractibility. 2. Involvement in activities that have a high potential for painful consequences. 3. Grandiosity or inflated self-esteem. 4. Flight of ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing. 5. Activity (goal-oriented) increase. 6. Sleep decrease. 7. Talkative or pressure to keep talking.

Question 4

What differs between a manic episode and a hypomanic episode? (3)

Answer 4

1. Hypomanic episode lasts 4 days instead of a week. 2. Hypomanic episode is not severe enough to cause marked impairment in social or occupational functioning or to necessitate hospitalization. 3. Hypomanic episodes can not have psychotic features.

Question 5

What are the requirements for bipolar 1 disorder? (2)

Answer 5

1. At least one manic episode. 2. Psychotic features cannot be better explained by a different disorder.

Question 6

What are the requirements for bipolar 2 disorder? (3)

Answer 6

1. At least one hypomanic episode. 2. At least one MDE. 3. There has never been a manic episode.

Question 7

What is criterion A for cyclothymic disorder?

Answer 7

A. For 2 years (at least 1 year in children and adolescents) there have been numerous periods with hypomanic symptoms that do not meet criteria for a hypomanic episode and numerous periods with depressive symptoms that do not meet criteria for MDD.

Question 8

What is criterion B for cyclothymic disorder?

Answer 8

B. During the above 2-year period, the hypomanic and depressive periods have been present for at least half the time and the individual has not been without the symptoms for more than 2 months at a time.

Question 9

What are the specifiers for bipolar I disorder? (12)

Answer 9

1. With anxious distress. 2. With mixed features. 3. With rapid cycling. 4. With mood-congruent psychotic features. 5. With mood-incongruent psychotic features. 6. With catatonia. 7. With peripartum onset. 8. With seasonal pattern. 9. Remission (partial or full). 10. Severity (mild, moderate, severe). 11. With melancholic features. 12. With atypical features.

Question 10

What is rapid cycling?

Answer 10

The presence of 4 or more mood episodes within 12 months.