This discussion brings to light the fact that the leading research rarely utilizes the term bipolar. There's another term they use, but it slips my mind. Basically, the approach to disorders is characterized as a mood spectrum, and they're getting away from the specific labels. It is more common to identify where someone is on the mood spectrum.

If I had my druthers, we'd still be characterized as manic-depressive. I feel it does much better at describing the disorder.