Welcome to A Psychologist Talks! Today we are talking about Bipolar Disorders, a diagnostic category that is often misunderstand and over-diagnosed (at least using our current conceptualization of it). Like most episodes in this series, I will focus more energy on exploring key features that help with differential diagnosis, rather than the symptoms themselves. For instance, we will discuss the importance of (a) the temporal pairing of symptoms, (b) what symptoms might look like or how they might be described [sufficient severity], and the few but important differences between what constitutes hypomania (Bipolar I and/or II) and mania (Bipolar I).
A macro curiosity I did not offer during the episode but I often mention during trainings: what of epigenetics and incomplete genetic inheritance? Bipolar Disorder is a human-made construct, and as much as we acknowledge the importance of genetics, it seems audacious to think it is an all-or-nothing condition.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
00:34 Definitions & A "Bipolar I" Caveat
02:43 Key Features: Temporal Pairing
04:50 Key Features: Symptom Description
09:51 A Reliance Upon Self-Report & Insight
12:35 Differentiating Mania & Hypomania: Severity
15:56 Differentiating Mania & Hypomania: Hospitalization & Psychosis
17:58 Recap & Subjective Experiences
Looking for Other Diagnostic Series Episodes?
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): kzread.info/dash/bejne/dqh1spuFcrebn5c.html
Bipolar Disorder: YOU ARE HERE
Depressive Disorders (e.g., MDD & PDD): pending
Dissociation & Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID): kzread.info/dash/bejne/a5N20ZdtYda6epc.html
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): pending
Panic & Panic Disorder: pending
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): kzread.info/dash/bejne/fmailsWMp66vqZc.html
Schizoaffective Disorder: kzread.info/dash/bejne/fWytrqZvppPZlJs.html
& More to Come!