What's Bipolar III disorder? - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

fiesty_leo · 06-07-2005, 09:10 PM

Hi all,

I understand the differences between bipolar I & II, cyclothymia, S.A.D etc...but what's bipolar III?

K.

reesie · 06-08-2005, 08:53 AM

Good question. Not everyone in the profession believe in a bipolar III or IV. But for those who do I think the definition varies wildly. So far it has not made it into the DSM IV. But I've seen referred to SSRI induced hypomania. I'm not sure what bipolar IV is, I think it is late life emergence of bp?

GatsbyLuvr1920 · 06-27-2005, 05:12 PM

I know that there's actually a bipolar V and VI, believe it or not. Bipolar III, although it is commonly touted as "anti-depressant induced bipolar disorder" is actually cyclothymia. Bipolar IV is the "anti-depressant induced bipolar disorder. Bipolar V is "unipolar depression", but the person isn't ruled out as being bipolar because they have a strong family history of BD and they could easily develop mania, and bipolar VI is "unipolar mania," or having manic episodes without depressive episodes. (I have never heard of anybody experiencing this, though, unless they were put on lithium or mood stabilizers on their first manic episode, and they never had a chance to experience a depressive episode.) Hope this helps!
-GatsbyLuvr1920-