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 Mar 14 2007, 12:10 AM
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Group: Platinum Member
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From: Boise, Idaho, USA
Member No.: 11,374
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QUOTE Science Daily
February 15, 2007
Simple Test Distinguishes Between Bipolar Disorder And Depression
Patients with bipolar disorder experience manic or hypomanic episodes (euphoria) and depression. Type II bipolar disorder (hypomanic) patients are especially difficult to diagnose since their manic episodes are not very marked and they are usually diagnosed as depression patients. Choosing an incorrect treatment can be counterproductive. A study led by IDIBAPS, with the participation of PSYNCRO and 10 more hospital centres and the support of GSK, demonstrates how the HCL-32 test identifies bipolar depression in a simple way and with success above 80%. This work has been done with the Spanish version of this test.
Type II bipolar disorder is an underdiagnosed disease which can be easily confused with depression. Contrarily to what happens in type I bipolar disorder, depressive symptoms and, above all, manic symptoms alternated in this form of the disease are not evident and difficult to identify. In fact, patients suffering from it usually go to the doctor because they are depressed, without thinking that they have also had slight manic episodes (euphoria and other cognition disorders).
Medical centres lack tools to identify successfully this pathology, which can take 8-10 years to be correctly diagnosed. Furthermore, antidepressant treatment can be counterproductive in patients with type II bipolar disorder. Dr. Eduard Vieta, of the group Biological Basis of the Psychic Disorder and Nuclear Psychiatry of the Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), has coordinated a study in order to validate the Spanish version of the test Hypomania symptom check list (HCL-32), which is being developed in an ample international collaboration.
The last issue of Journal of Affective Disorders published results confirming the usefulness of this simple questionnaire of 32 questions to distinguish major depression from bipolar disorder. In 2005, researchers from IDIBAPS collaborated in the international design of this test (J Affect Disord, 2005; 88(2):217-33). The main difference between HCL-32 and the test used until today -the Mood disorder questionnaire (MDQ)- is the open character of the questions, facilitating the patient’s sincerity. In these questions lay essential information to assess retrospectively the energy/activity levels of patients and problems of disinhibition, self-control and attention they have suffered in the past. This new study compares the sensitivity of both questionnaires, and concludes that the HCL-32 is more precise than the MDQ in the identification of type II bipolar disorder patients. This work has been supported by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and had the participation of PSYNCRO, a neuropsychological research enterprise, located in the Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB), which has worked in collaboration with the Department of Psychology of the Universitat de Girona.
A total of 237 people from 15 different psychiatric departments (see annex list), filled out the HCL-32. Except those belonging to the control group (60), the rest were correctly diagnosed, stable and receiving a correct treatment for their pathology, which could be type I (62) and type II (56) bipolar disorder, or major depression (58). This test was able to identify more than 80% of patients with bipolar disorder. Although it could not distinguish between types I and II, this decision is relatively easy to take from the clinical data of the patient. For the first time, a tool to identify bipolar disorder is available for patients going to the medical centre claiming depression. Although it is necessary to go on with studies in patients of wider populations, the HCL-32 test can provide very useful information to psychiatrists and even to primary-care physicians.
Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by IDIBAPS - Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer.
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May 30 2007, 01:00 PM
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Newbie
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Anything to help with diagnosing people more accurately is great! So many symtoms overlap from one illness to another, I don't know how any doctor (or patient) can be confident in their diagnosis.
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Sep 6 2007, 06:12 PM
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QUOTE(Lucinda @ May 30 2007, 09:38 PM)  yeah, exactly. The symptoms you are experiencing should be treated if they are hindering your life. I suffer more from depression than "hypomania". I was once diagnosed with this bipolar II from an SSRI reaction. I didn't buy it and thought it was a hasty diagnosis, particularly because it can be a career destroyer. If the rare times in my life that I felt euphoric (not from self medication) were hypomania, I'll take it anyday over this chronic depression...
Lucinda. How can it be a career destroyer? Explain?
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Sep 7 2007, 12:36 AM
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From: Boise, Idaho, USA
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Hi, Aliebling. There's still a lot of stigma with mental illness, in some countries more than others. I think that's what Lucinda was referring to. QUOTE(Aliebling @ Sep 6 2007, 05:12 PM) QUOTE(Lucinda @ May 30 2007, 09:38 PM) yeah, exactly. The symptoms you are experiencing should be treated if they are hindering your life. I suffer more from depression than "hypomania". I was once diagnosed with this bipolar II from an SSRI reaction. I didn't buy it and thought it was a hasty diagnosis, particularly because it can be a career destroyer. If the rare times in my life that I felt euphoric (not from self medication) were hypomania, I'll take it anyday over this chronic depression...
Lucinda. How can it be a career destroyer? Explain?
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Nov 2 2007, 09:57 PM
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Newbie
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From: Rome, GA
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QUOTE (Lucinda @ May 30 2007, 09:38 PM) yeah, exactly. The symptoms you are experiencing should be treated if they are hindering your life. I suffer more from depression than "hypomania". I was once diagnosed with this bipolar II from an SSRI reaction. I didn't buy it and thought it was a hasty diagnosis, particularly because it can be a career destroyer. If the rare times in my life that I felt euphoric (not from self medication) were hypomania, I'll take it anyday over this chronic depression...
Lucinda. Hi Lucinda, I am currently going through the diagnosis of BP II I believe. Like you I've mostly been depressed and always ended up responding badly to SSRI's after a few months. My pdoc just pointed in that direction last visit. I also don't have marked mania...or even times of high energy. I have extremely mood swings and irritability. Maybe thats why I've ever had relief wrong diagnosis... Chrystal =)))
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Dec 8 2007, 09:29 PM
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Just Registered
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My original diagnosis was depression, but my psychiatrist is now considering the possibility that I may be bipolar. What happens when someone who is bipolar takes antidepressants? Is it really a problem?
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Jan 17 2008, 05:08 PM
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Interesting post - thanks for posting it
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 Jan 20 2008, 03:01 PM
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Advanced Member
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From: southern Cal east corner of state, Coachella Valley
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QUOTE (Lucinda @ May 30 2007, 05:38 PM) yeah, exactly. The symptoms you are experiencing should be treated if they are hindering your life. I suffer more from depression than "hypomania". I was once diagnosed with this bipolar II from an SSRI reaction. I didn't buy it and thought it was a hasty diagnosis, particularly because it can be a career destroyer. If the rare times in my life that I felt euphoric (not from self medication) were hypomania, I'll take it anyday over this chronic depression...
Lucinda. Lucinda I hope you read this. I was also misdiagnosed with bi-polar type 2 about fifteen years ago; last year I had the good fortune of meeting the head pdoc for the entire VA. after reviewing my charts and chatting with me he took aside and informed me that I in fact did not have bi-polar, I had always suspected this, but this was a pleasant revelation. He took me off the mood meds very quickly, for a week or so I walked around as if I was drunk. I was surprised how fast the meds got out of system. He informed me that the meds were mimicking the bi-polar symptoms. Please have a pleasant day Lucinda, Frank
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 Mar 10 2008, 03:19 AM
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Newbie
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From: los angeles
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QUOTE (smileysrsuper @ Nov 2 2007, 10:57 PM) QUOTE (Lucinda @ May 30 2007, 09:38 PM) yeah, exactly. The symptoms you are experiencing should be treated if they are hindering your life. I suffer more from depression than "hypomania". I was once diagnosed with this bipolar II from an SSRI reaction. I didn't buy it and thought it was a hasty diagnosis, particularly because it can be a career destroyer. If the rare times in my life that I felt euphoric (not from self medication) were hypomania, I'll take it anyday over this chronic depression...
Lucinda. Hi Lucinda, I am currently going through the diagnosis of BP II I believe. Like you I've mostly been depressed and always ended up responding badly to SSRI's after a few months. My pdoc just pointed in that direction last visit. I also don't have marked mania...or even times of high energy. I have extremely mood swings and irritability. Maybe thats why I've ever had relief wrong diagnosis... Chrystal =))) I was at a party long time ago and I asked a Dr. there about something that was troubling me and he said...(I'm thinking sombebody expensive in Beverly Hills, but he said the best Dr. for you is YOU!) I found that very humbling, obviously I never forgot it. Have you looked into nutritional supplements including Amino acids? Good luck!
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Apr 4 2008, 01:08 PM
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Junior Member
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QUOTE (smileysrsuper @ Nov 2 2007, 10:57 PM) QUOTE (Lucinda @ May 30 2007, 09:38 PM) yeah, exactly. The symptoms you are experiencing should be treated if they are hindering your life. I suffer more from depression than "hypomania". I was once diagnosed with this bipolar II from an SSRI reaction. I didn't buy it and thought it was a hasty diagnosis, particularly because it can be a career destroyer. If the rare times in my life that I felt euphoric (not from self medication) were hypomania, I'll take it anyday over this chronic depression...
Lucinda. Hi Lucinda, I am currently going through the diagnosis of BP II I believe. Like you I've mostly been depressed and always ended up responding badly to SSRI's after a few months. My pdoc just pointed in that direction last visit. I also don't have marked mania...or even times of high energy. I have extremely mood swings and irritability. Maybe thats why I've ever had relief wrong diagnosis... Chrystal =))) What kind of mood swings? Does it vary per person?
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Apr 6 2008, 09:19 PM
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Junior Member
Group: Junior Member
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From: FLORIDA
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I was diagnosed major depressed many years ago. (4 years after getting sober) I'm a recovering alcoholic. Last year after losing 2 jobs and being homeless, I tried to get free meds and was diagnosed as bi polar, from another doc, stating the ssri aren't solving the problem. My regular doc doubled the ssri dose to try to control the severe depression, not concerned with the bi-polar diagnosis. Life has stabilized some and my doc is still more concerned with the more predominant depression. I only remember maybe a few days of euphoric symptoms as described as the mania, many years ago in my whole life. Already mentioned, I would love to have more of those behaviors rather than the depression.
I don't buy the type II bi polar, but would like to find out. Can I be tested? The only symptoms I have of any irritability or mania is if I forget to take my ssri.
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Trust God, Clean house, Help others
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Test Distinguishes Between Bipolar & Depression |
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Depression Forums - A Depression & Mental Health Community Support Group > OTHER DEPRESSION & ANXIETY RELATED ILLNESSES > Bipolar Disorders (Manic Depression)
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