how many use to be considered bipolar

[crudpuppy]

I was just wonder how many of the ppl that fall under this new diagnoses( or at least new to me as I was just recently told I fell into this group) were once just considered plain old bipolars.

[crudpuppy]

or well bipolars with some sorta physcotic episodes.

[Deedeelyn]

I was always considered severe clinical depression with psychotic breaks. They talked possible bipolar when I was in the hospital but came to the conclusion I was schizoaffective after I left the hospital. I was only in there about a week.
Deedeeyn

[waves]

fwiw, this info is based on what i read and also discussed with my pdoc who says i'm not schizoaffective (but i'm not sure... it's the magical thinking and ideas of reference that puzzle me but i am not sure if that happens while i am still in a cycle, especially manic or hypomanic.)

in full bipolar mania, there can be florid psychosis but that does not toss an individual over to a schizoaffective dx. indeed, some bipolars also have psychotic depressions tho that is less common... more commonly there are some psychotic features such as paranoia, still, it is considered bipolar.

the difference between schizoaffective and bipolar disorders is a pretty fine line. i am basing this on reading the criteria (and verifying wth pdoc) both from the DSM-IV as well as the ICD-10. I can't remember which is 3 weeks and which is 2 weeks but the concept is this:

An individual is considered schizoaffective as opposed to bipolar IF and only IF disturbances of thought occur beyond 2-3 weeks after remission of the mood episode, independently of whether depression or mania.

i don't have a link to share or i would. i'm not much good at researching right now, perhaps someone else can... i am KO for that. i read some earlier and had to quit for brain jumbles. so anyway, i'm sorry i can't recall whether ICD-10 is 2 weeks and DSM-VI-TR is 3, or viceversa, but you get the idea. i hope. it is just a question of time-span of certain sx. wrt a mood episode.

regards and best wishes to all

~ waves ~

[Deedeelyn]

Very interesting and informative for me,, Thanks Waves

Deedeelyn

[ArottySDmom]

My son was diagnosed BiPolar at age 5, he was very severe, now at age 12 they finally changed it to Schizo-affective. He definantly fits all the criteria.
Sorry for just jumping in it happens to be my first time here but this post just fit..
Karen