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Bipolar And Related Disorders Are Separated From The Depressive Disorders Essay

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Bipolar and Related Disorders are separated from the depressive disorders in the DSM-5. (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) They are placed between the chapters on schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders and depressive disorders. This is because they are a bridge between the two diagnostic classes in terms of symptomatology, family history, and genetics. The disorders that fall under this category are as follows: Bipolar I, Bipolar II, Cyclothymic Disorder, Substance / Medication-Induced Bipolar and related, Bipolar and related due to another Medical Condition, Other Specified Bipolar and related, and Unspecified Bipolar and related.
Bipolar I is our modern understanding of the 19th Century manic-depressive disorder or affective psychosis, however, it differs in that neither psychosis nor a lifetime experience of a major depressive episode is required. It requires one or more extreme manic episode, or symptoms of both a mania and a depression. It may be preceded by, or followed by, hypomanic or major depressive episodes. Mania symptoms cause significant impairment in life and may require hospitalization or trigger psychosis. In contrast, bipolar II is defined by the lifetime experience of at least one hypomanic episode and at least one major depressive episode. Criteria for hypomania are like those of mania, but in a milder form. Instead of impairment, hypomania is marked by a distinct change in functioning. (APA, 2013)
Bipolar II is no longer thought to be

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