Overview of Classifications of Bipolar Disorder

Overview of Classifications of Bipolar Disorder Bipolar Disorder Print Why Are There so Many Classifications of Bipolar Disorder? By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. Learn about our editorial policy Marcia Purse Updated on July 20, 2017 Bipolar Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children Your Rights Tom Merton / Getty Images When evaluating symptoms and giving names to bipolar disorderâ€"also called manic depressionâ€"and bipolar disorders many subsets, there are no absolutes. In their book, We Heard the Angels of Madness, authors Diane and Lisa Berger describe bipolar disorder as a virulent disorder with many faces and liken it to the multi-headed Hydra of Greek mythology. Just as the Hydra sprouted several new heads for each one slain, researchers and clinicians find that for each new fact learned about bipolar disorder, more questions are raised. Symptoms are different from one person to the next. The severity of symptoms also differs. Facets of personalities combine to create additional faces of the monster. Thus, researchers, clinicians, and practitioners face a wide array of challenges in order to codify each diagnosis. In response, classification systems, subsets, and specifiers have been developed in an attempt to standardize the diagnostic process. In the United States, the primary system is the one found in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders also known as the DSM-IV. This classification system organizes the mood disorders under the heading of Clinical Disorders (Axis I). DSM-IV Listing - Mood Disorders Depressive DisordersDysthymic DisorderMajor Depressive DisorderBipolar DisordersBipolar Disorder IBipolar Disorder IICyclothymic DisorderMood Disorder Due to a General Medical ConditionSubstance-Induced Mood Disorder To each of the above disorders, any of a number of specifiers (e.g., with seasonal pattern, with catatonic features, first episode manic, etc.) can be added to clarify the severity or course of the disorder for an individual patient. The International system is the ICD-10, The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, tenth revision. The ICD-10 provides a structure of families or related disorders and breaks them down initially into many more categories than does the DSM-IV. Bipolar disorder is within the family of mood (affective) disorders. ICD-10 Listing - Mood Disorders Manic EpisodeHypomaniaMania without psychotic symptomsMania with psychotic symptomsOther manic episodesManic episode, unspecifiedBipolar Affective DisorderCurrent episode hypomanicCurrent episode manic without psychotic symptomsCurrent episode manic with psychotic symptomsCurrent episode mild or moderate depressionCurrent episode severe depression without psychotic symptomsCurrent episode severe depression with psychotic symptomsCurrent episode mixedCurrently in remissionOther bipolar affective disordersBipolar affective disorder, unspecifiedDepressive EpisodeMild depressive episodeModerate depressive episodeSevere depressive episode without psychotic symptomsSevere depressive episode with psychotic symptomsOther depressive episodesDepressive episode, unspecifiedRecurrent Depressive DisorderCurrent episode mildCurrent episode moderateCurrent episode severe without psychotic symptomsCurrent episode severe with psychotic symptomsCurrently in remissionOther recurrent depressive disorder sUnspecifiedPersistent Mood [Affective] DisordersCyclothymiaDysthymiaOther persistent mood [affective] disordersUnspecifiedOther Mood [Affective] DisordersUnspecified Mood [Affective] Disorder In addition to the two formally recognized diagnostic classifications outlined above, there are quite a few other descriptive systems to be found in the literature. Many of these have been developed by researchers for specific projects or presented as possible alternatives as more is learned about these disorders. One such classification system is that of Young and Klerman who distinguish between six subtypes of manic depression. Young and Klerman Subtypes Bipolar I - Mania and Major DepressionBipolar II - Hypomania and Major DepressionBipolar III - CyclothymiaBipolar IV - Antidepressant-Induced Hypo/maniaBipolar V - Major Depression with a family history of Bipolar DisorderBipolar VI - Unipolar Mania