The bipolar spectrum : diagnosis or fad? / by Joel Paris.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Paris, Joel, 1940-

Contributor:

Samuel Bellet Book Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Manic-depressive illness.

Bipolar Disorder--diagnosis.

Diagnostic Errors--trends.

Medical Subjects:

Bipolar Disorder--diagnosis.

Diagnostic Errors--trends.

Local Subjects:

Manic-depressive illness.

Physical Description:

109 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Brunner-Routledge, 2012.

Summary:

In the 1970s, author Joel Paris was one of the first doctors in his hospital to prescribe lithium to a psychiatric patient. In the wake of the drug's success - both in that case and countless others - why this book? As Dr. Paris' historical examination of bipolar diagnosis and critique of the spectrum demonstrates, medicine has often been prone to fads that are assumed correct until proven wrong by science. This book opens discussion about the over-diagnosis of bipolar disorder and the negative impact of this development on clinical care. Dr. Paris explores why patients are being classified as bipolar on dubious grounds and are being prescribed drugs they do not need. He explains the differences between bipolar disorder and depression without mania, personality disorders characterized by unstable mood, and impulsive disorders. A separate chapter discusses the unique issues present in the field of child psychiatry. Fads remain popular as long as they answer elusive and complex questions. Unfortunately, the bipolar spectrum being used to explain a wide variety of psychopathological phenomena has caused classic bipolar disorder to become almost lost in the shuffle. Combining research findings and personal experiences, Dr. Paris documents the damage of over-diagnosis and explores alternative treatments from which patients could benefit. Book jacket.

Contents:

The bipolar diagnosis

"Diagnostic creep" in the bipolar spectrum

Affective instability

Differential diagnosis of unstable mood

Bipolarity and personality disorders

Bipolarity and childhood behavioral disorders

How psychiatric fads develop

The impact of overdiagnosis.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Samuel Bellet Book Fund.

ISBN:

9780415891813

0415891817

OCLC:

757912397