DSM-5-based Bipolar Disorder Subtypes: Outlined Symptoms

Bipolar Disorder Subtypes: Symptoms outlined in DSM-5

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Characterised by extreme mood swings, the disorder can significantly impact a person's daily life. Here's a guide to understanding the various types, symptoms, and specifiers associated with bipolar disorder.

If you suspect you have bipolar disorder or have been diagnosed but believe you have a specific subset, there are numerous ways to seek help. You can start by discussing your concerns with your doctor, contacting a mental health professional, researching about bipolar disorder and its subsets, trying self-help strategies, and joining bipolar disorder support groups.

Bipolar disorder can be diagnosed with additional specifiers to describe specific types. For instance, Bipolar Disorder with Atypical Features is given when a mood episode doesn't fit traditional symptoms. This could involve changes in sleeping, eating, motor movements, or communication, such as significant weight gain or increased appetite, hypersomnia, feeling heavy or leaden in the arms or legs, or having constant fear of rejection.

Another type is Bipolar Disorder with Peripartum Onset, also known as postpartum depression, which occurs following childbirth. Symptoms of postpartum depression include symptoms of depression, fear that you're not a good caretaker, severe anxiety or panic attacks, and thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.

The three main types of bipolar disorder are Bipolar I, Bipolar II, and Cyclothymic Disorder. Bipolar I is characterised by manic episodes that last at least seven days, or by manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs immediate hospital care. Bipolar II, on the other hand, involves a pattern of depressive and hypomanic episodes, but not the full-blown manic episodes of Bipolar I. Cyclothymic Disorder is a chronic form of the disorder, characterised by numerous periods of hypomanic symptoms as well as depressive symptoms that do not meet the criteria for a major depressive episode.

Bipolar disorder can also present with mixed features, where a person experiences mood episodes that are a mixture of mania or hypomania and depression. This can be distressing and requires immediate attention.

In addition, a person may experience Bipolar Disorder with Melancholic Features, marked by an extremely intense depressive episode, feeling like they have almost no ability to feel pleasure. To receive a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder with Anxious Distress, a person must have at least two of the following symptoms most of the time during the current or most recent mood episode: feeling irritable or short-fused, feeling unusually restless, having difficulty concentrating because of worry, feeling a sense of dread, or feeling that they might lose control of themselves.

Bipolar disorder can sometimes be confused with other conditions such as borderline personality disorder (BPD), depression, substance use disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. It's important to seek professional help to accurately diagnose and manage the condition.

Lastly, a Seasonal Pattern Specifier can apply to bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, or recurrent major depressive disorder. This refers to depression or extreme mood shifts triggered by the change in seasons, and it can be found under the umbrella of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Bipolar disorder with psychotic features is another diagnosis given when a person experiences psychosis during a mood episode.

In atypical cases of bipolar depression, a person can be "cheered up" and no longer feel depressed for a period of time due to a positive event in their life. This is not common in other types of depression.

Remember, seeking help is the first step towards managing bipolar disorder. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms, it's important to reach out to a healthcare professional for guidance.