Unipolar or bipolar depression? Improving diagnostic confidence with the adult patient.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to inform advanced practice nurses in primary care about the differential diagnosis of bipolar disorder (BD), when depression is identified in the adult patient.


METHODS
Selected research and clinical articles.


CONCLUSIONS
Adult patients with BD are much more likely to seek treatment for depression than for mania or hypomania. Recognition of BD is improved when the primary care clinician is alerted to the factors indicating bipolarity and utilizes available screening tools.


CONCLUSIONS
Misdiagnosis of a bipolar spectrum disorder delays proper treatment and precludes adequate management both pharmacologically and psychotherapeutically.
Ramsley
Susan E
SE
sueramsley@comcast.net
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D011581:Psychological Tests