Psychopathology, temperament, and past course in primary major depressions. 1. Review of evidence for a bipolar spectrum.
In reviewing recent findings on affective conditions in the interface of unipolar and bipolar disorders, we find evidence favoring a partial return to Kraepelin's broad concept of manic-depressive illness, which included many recurrent depressives and temperamental variants. This review addresses methodologic, clinical, and familial considerations in the definition and characterization of a proposed spectrum of bipolar disorders which subsumes episodic and chronic forms. Episodic bipolar disorders are subclassified into bipolar schizoaffective, and bipolar I and II, and bipolar III or pseudo-unipolar forms. Chronic bipolar disorders could be either intermittent or persistent, and are subclassified into chronic mania, protracted mixed states, and rapid-cycling forms, as well as the classical temperaments (cyclothymic, hyperthymic, irritable and dysthymic).
Akiskal
H S
HS
University of Tennessee, Department of Psychiatry, Memphis.
Cassano
G B
GB
Musetti
L
L
Perugi
G
G
Tundo
A
A
Mignani
V
V
D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D010551:Personality; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013694:Temperament; D009626:Terminology as Topic