Let me look . . . .

Okay. This book, by the way, focuses mainly on bpII and approaching bipolar as a spectrum of symptoms as opposed to two distinct types. This is what he says:

"The rules of the DSM also say that hypomania is not associated with psychosis. Therefore, if a person has lost contact with reality, that person by definition has mania." (pg. 17)

Now, let me see if he says anything at all about depressive psychosis. Hang on . . . .

(pg. 43 - a definition): "Psychotic [depression]: depression is accompanied with a loss of contact with reality, including delusional beliefs and hearing voices (and rarely, other forms of hallucinations)

Notice that psychosis is possible in both mania and in depression, so this is where his discussion of bipolarity being on a spectrum comes in. A person, according to him, can fall anywhere along that spectrum/range of symptoms which is why pdocs have so much trouble distinguishing bp I from bp II. There is no hard dividing line between the two, according to him, except that which the DSM has imposed/specified: mainly duration of symptoms and mania vs. hypomania. Everything else is defined exactly the same by DSM but actual presentation of symptoms is much fuzzier/varied than the DSM really allows for.

It's an interesting book. I haven't picked it up in a couple of years, but I may just have to give it a re-read.