Bipolar Spectrum (bipolar + spectrum)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences100%

Terms modified by Bipolar Spectrum

  • bipolar spectrum disorders
    		•

    Selected Abstracts

    The strengths and weaknesses of the concept ,Bipolar Spectrum'

    BIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 6 2003
    Jonathan M Himmelhoch
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]

    Demystifying borderline personality: critique of the concept and unorthodox reflections on its natural kinship with the bipolar spectrum

    ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 6 2004
    Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
    First page of article [source]

    A critical appraisal of lithium's efficacy and effectiveness: the last 60 years

    BIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 2009
    Paul Grof
    The history that depicts the evaluation of lithium's efficacy presents an interesting contrast: on the one hand, conviction that, of all psychotropic drugs, lithium has the best demonstrated efficacy; on the other hand, repeated attempts to question it. Those contesting lithium's stabilizing abilities have argued from several angles, for example that the proof was methodologically incorrect or insufficient, that the number of responders is small, or that the response is poor in practice and does not last. But there is a good explanation for this paradox. While the early challenges to lithium's value in recurrent mood disorders reflected mainly that psychiatry had not yet developed a methodology suitable for testing long-term efficacy, more recent questioning has resulted mostly from retesting its efficacy and effectiveness in a substantially broadened bipolar spectrum, outside the classical diagnosis. Lithium, however, continues to stabilize very well the patients suffering from typical bipolar disorder,the condition for which its efficacy was originally demonstrated. More recently, lithium has also proven to dramatically reduce suicidal behavior and mortality and to augment markedly the efficacy of antidepressants in unresponsive patients. [source]

    A new bipolar spectrum concept: a brief review

    BIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 2002
    Jules Angst
    Angst J, Gamma A. A new bipolar spectrum concept: a brief review. Bipolar Disord 2002: 4(Suppl. 1): 11,14. © Blackwell Munksgaard, 2002 Research on the broad bipolar spectrum is dependent on the definition of hypomania. We recently proposed a new, softer syndromal definition with clinical validity. This broadens the diagnosis of bipolar II (BP-II) disorder at the expense of major depressive disorder (MDD). There is evidence for a third group of suspected BP-II manifesting major depression plus hypomanic symptoms. The two bipolar-II groups together are as prevalent as MDD. A new concept of minor bipolar disorder embracing dysthymia, minor and recurrent brief depression with hypomanic syndromes and symptoms is discussed. Some methodological pitfalls of research on drug-induced hypomania as an element of the bipolar spectrum are also summarized. [source]

    Pharmacotherapy of bipolar II disorder: a critical review of current evidence

    BIPOLAR DISORDERS, Issue 1 2004
    George Hadjipavlou
    Objectives:, There is much controversy surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of patients with bipolar II disorder (BP II). To address the growing need to find effective treatment strategies for patients with BP II, this article identifies and summarizes available published evidence specific to the pharmacotherapy of BP II. Methods:, Using the keywords, ,bipolar disorder', ,type II' or ,type 2', ,bipolar II', ,hypomania', and ,bipolar spectrum', a search of the databases Medline (via PubMed), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (via Ovid), and PsychInfo was conducted for the period January 1994 to January 2003. Articles deemed directly relevant to the treatment of BP II were selected. Studies that included both BP I and II patients were excluded if results for BP II patients were not analyzed and reported separately. Results:, Fourteen articles were selected for the review period. There are no double blind, randomized controlled trials (RCT) involving only BP II patients. Most studies investigating the pharmacotherapy of BP II are methodologically limited, having observational or retrospective designs and small samples. For long-term treatment, lamotrigine has the strongest quality of evidence (double blind RCT), while lithium is the best studied. With regard to short-term treatment, there is some limited support for the use of risperidone in hypomania, and for divalproex, fluoxetine and venlafaxine in treating depression. Conclusions:, There is a paucity of sound evidence to help guide clinicians treating BP II patients. Decisions about pharmacotherapy should be made on a case-by-case basis; overall, broad recommendations that are based on available evidence cannot be adequately made. More quality research is needed to delineate effective treatment strategies. [source]