雙極性病譜疾患

Bipolar spectrum disorder is still an evolving concept. The prevalence of this disorder is significantly higher than previously believed and may approach rates as high as 5%. This disorder is a longitudinal diagnosis and its clinical symptoms include hypomania, mania, mixed states, major depressive episode, hyperthymic temperament and depressive mixed state. Since bipolar patients are likely to seek treatment for their depression rather for their hypomania or mania, clinician should consider the possibility of bipolar spectrum disorder for all patients presenting for treatment of major depression. A history of hypomania or mania must be taken into consideration by the clinician when initializing a treatment plan. It is recommended that treatment for bipolar depression should include mood stabilizers and add, as required, antidepressants or newer mood stabilizers. Antidepressant monotherapy could push patients' mood to hypomania, mania, rapid cycling or mixed state.