Do you think bipolar disorder is overdiagnosed?

Answer 1

If someone has a labile personality, whammo, they are called bipolar. I agree it is over-diagnosed.

Answer 2

I think this is hard to answer, lol.

Now that there are a myriad of medications available for people with various mental illnesses, there appear to be more people diagnosed with those conditions all the time. If the medications didn't exist, would they have even brought up their problems to a doctor? Would they be so willing to be diagnosed without the "promise" of help through medicine?

It seems like I can find a neurosis or two in everybody I meet if I look hard enough. One person seems rather OCD about cleaning their house, another seems excessively shy socially, and yet another is clearly a hypochondriac. It's my contention that just about anyone who walks into a psychiatrist's office and is really honest about some of their darker feelings and tendencies can walk out with a diagnosis and possibly some pills.

But just because everyone seems to have issues, does that mean the isses aren't real? They say about 50% of Americans are overweight or obese. Just because it's a big percentage of people doesn't mean it's not real or still a problem societally-speaking, right? Perhaps it is the same bipolar disorder. Blame it all on the face pace of modern life, I say :).

Answer 3

First one must separate claims of having bipolar disorder, from people who have actually been diagnosed with bipolar disorder by a qualified professional.
A diagnosis of bipolar disorder cannot be made easily or quickly, and it may be that along with people who claim to be bipolar but haven't ever actually been diagnosed, there may be some doctors who are less thorough in the diagnostic process. Also frequency or numbers of people affected with bipolar disorder, ADHD, or other such problems may not change much, BUT publicity and media attention to such disorders on TV, in magazines, news, etc, may merely be bringing them more to the attention of the general public.

Here are some links on bipolar disorder and on psychiatric disorders in general and how to distinguish between different disorders.
http://www.psycheducation.org/index.html
http://bipolar.about.com/cs/menu_diagnosis/a/diag_physcond.htm
http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Bipolar/diagnosis.asp
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/bipolar_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm

This last link has much information and also links to the official DSM IV diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder.
http://www.pendulum.org/diagnosis.html

Answer 4

I think bipolar disorder is self-overdiagnosed. I can't tell you how many people have it that have never seen a specialist.

Answer 5

yes, it is over used. There are several types of Mood disorders, Bipolar disorder is the most commonly used initial assesment.


www.icanrelate.com.ph
mind health forum

Answer 6

no, diagnosis can be incorrect, but not "over done". I do think that some cases of bipolar disorder are over treated.

Answer 7

I can only speak for myself when I say no.

My diagnosis came after I had a manic episode; I was grandiose, not sleeping, talking so quickly and switching from topic to topic, my family was terrified. I spent $11,000 in ONE MONTH .

I had to be hospitalized and evaluated. It was horrible.

Answer 8

yes

Answer 9

NO!!!.......YES!!!....oh...I don't know.