title: Overdiagnosis of bipolar disorder: a critical analysis of the literature.
abstract: Bipolar disorder (BD) is considered one of the most disabling mental conditions, with high rates of morbidity, disability, and premature death from suicide. Although BD is often misdiagnosed as major depressive disorder, some attention has recently been drawn to the possibility that BD could be overdiagnosed in some settings. The present paper focuses on a critical analysis of the overdiagnosis issue among bipolar patients. It includes a review of the available literature findings, followed by some recommendations aiming at optimizing the diagnosis of BD and increasing its reliability.
authors.affiliation: UT Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, UT Houston Medical School, 1941 East Road, Houston, TX 77054, USA.
authors.forename: Amna A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ghouse
authors.affiliation: UT Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, UT Houston Medical School, 1941 East Road, Houston, TX 77054, USA.
authors.forename: Marsal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanches
authors.affiliation: UT Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, UT Houston Medical School, 1941 East Road, Houston, TX 77054, USA.
authors.forename: Giovana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zunta-Soares
authors.affiliation: UT Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, UT Houston Medical School, 1941 East Road, Houston, TX 77054, USA.
authors.forename: Alan C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Swann
authors.affiliation: UT Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, UT Houston Medical School, 1941 East Road, Houston, TX 77054, USA.
authors.forename: Jair C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Soares
mesh_terms: D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors