| LostBoyinNC 2005-04-29, 10:53 pm |
| There are some who have this idea that unipolar major depressives are
like nothing but milksops. And just go around sad and hopeless and cry
all the time and think of suicide. And that if they are irritable, that
means they are bipolar. I have encountered this idea or belief mainly
online on newsgroups such as this one or at psychobabble. I have rarely
encountered beliefs that "if you are irritable you must be bipolar"
offline in real world psychiatrist's offices.
The fact is, being irritable is one of the hallmark signs of major
depression. I remember my first psychiatrist asking me "how irritable
are you?" when he was assessing me for depression.
The bipolars Ive encountered were very grandiose, very know it all and
oftentimes insolent acting. But just irritability with other usual
symptoms of depression to me means unipolar major depression.
This article discusses the fallacy that irritability in mental illness
implies automatic bipolar dx.
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi...full/162/5/1025
Eric
|