Is bipolar II depression phenotypically distinctive?
OBJECTIVE
We examine the depressive symptom profile of bipolar II disorder patients compared with a comparator (composite) group of those with unipolar depression, with stratification by melancholic and non-melancholic subtypes.


METHODS
Out-patients (n = 394) attending a specialist depression clinic comprised the sample. Data on severity and prototypic status of depressive symptoms were analysed.


RESULTS
Age-matched analyses revealed minimal differentiation between bipolar II and composite unipolar groups. Stratified analyses suggested that 'bipolar II depression' more closely approximated melancholic depression in terms of psychomotor and cognitive slowing. Severity-based analyses and prototypic symptom patterns yielded differing results, suggesting that definition of bipolar II depression is influenced by rating strategies, and age.


CONCLUSIONS
We found limited differentiation of bipolar II depression from unipolar, melancholic and non-melancholic depression. Differences suggested previously may reflect age, gender and severity differences, highlighting the need for appropriately matched groups in defining bipolar II depression.
Parker
G B
GB
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales and Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick 2031, Sydney, Australia. g.parker@unsw.edu.au
Fletcher
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012107:Research Design; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult