Quote:
Originally Posted by Jensitive22
Initially it was a help. I was relieved there was a reason, a name for my symptoms. But, the more I have learned about it and the more I have read about the experiences of others, I struggle with doubts. I WISH there was a more objective way of diagnosing it
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Well, there are *somewhat* objective ways of diagnosing BP, but I don't think they're too ethical.
Some pdocs (like mine) intentionally prescribe antidepressants without a mood stabilizer as a means for testing BP. "Hypo/mania? Definitely BP. No hypo/mania? Major Depressive Disorder."
Some pdocs may also prescribe a stimulant without a mood stabilizer to distinguish between ADHD and BP.
Those are quick and dirty ways to test for BP. They're not 100% foolproof, though. Some BP people may slide through the cracks, while some non BP people may accidentally be Dx'ed as BP. But, it works quite well for the most part, which is why some pdocs do it. Also, there are diligent ways to distinguish BP from MDD when a patient has antidepressant-induced mania. You typically monitor the patient's "comedown" to determine if the person is MDD or BP. (The DSM-V goes into detail about how to do this.)
Personally, I was sort of glad my pdoc did this to me. Maybe it wasn't the most ethical thing, but it made me satisfied with my Dx. I also tried Adderall WHILE on a mood stabilizer, and that just made me go bonkers. I got 3.5 hours of sleep in 72 hours and I was totally hallucinating the entire time. That settled it for me.