Bipolar NOS

The three bipolar classifications we cover up to this point are loosely paraphrased from the DMS IV—The diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, published by the American Psychiatric Association. DSM-IV defines a fourth class, Bipolar NOS (No Otherwise Specified), which covers all other forms of bipolar disorder that don´t fall into any of the first three categories.




The Bipolar NOS label often applies to the following cases:
· Rapid fluctuations in mood that be intense enough to qualify as manic, hypomanic, or depressive but that don´t fulfill the duration requirements for a Bipolar I, Bipolar II, or Cyclothymic disorder diagnosis.
· Hypomania without depression. Mania or Cyclothymic disorder occurring simultaneously with schizophrenia, Psychotic disorder NOS, or Delusional thinking.
· Cronic depression and /or dysthymia (long-term, low level depression)
Accompanied by hypomanic episodes.

Source: Bipolar Disorder, Camila Flink, MD , Joe krainak