Bipolar disorder not otherwise specified: comparison with bipolar disorder I/II and major depression.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the personality, clinical and comorbidity characteristics of subjects meeting diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (BDNOS) to those with major depression and bipolar I or II disorder.

METHODS

A family-based study was undertaken on the molecular genetics of depression and personality, in which the proband had been treated for depression, regardless of history, of hypomania or mania.

RESULTS

The 25 subjects with BDNOS were different to the 297 subjects with major depression and similar to 75 subjects with bipolar I or II disorder on social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder and substance dependence comorbidity. The BDNOS subjects also had personality traits more akin to the bipolar I or II disorder subjects, especially borderline personality traits and self transcendence.

CONCLUSIONS

Subjects with BDNOS, based on a history of 1-3 day recurrent hypomanias, should be included within a broader bipolar spectrum.