Posted by S.D. on January 1, 2001, at 3:12:57
In reply to Re: Bipolar type that cycles betw norm. and depressed?, posted by Ted R on December 31, 2000, at 18:56:31
> Dr. Jim Phelps at
>www.psycheducation.org has information,
>and appears to be a thought leader on
>this Bipolar type.It may be what he calls
>a further diagnostic classification of
>Bipolar 2 disorder.Thanks. Actually his site is one that turned up in my search engine queries today. He does seem to be up on the latest research and theories, and obviously has had much personal clinical experience with it. I certainly can see myself in his description of "Depression with periods of severe insomnia" ( http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/02_diagnosis.html#Depression-Insomnia )
One seeming mistake I just noticed though, is in the section comparing GAD with Bipolar II ( http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/02_diagnosis_app.html#Anchor-GAD-20395 ). He lists profound insomnia as a Bipolar II symptom "using the broad criteria of...Dr. Akiskal" , but and article by Akiskal ( http://www.medscape.com/medscape/cno/1999/APA/Story.cfm?story_id=646 ) refers to a study where "It was found in this study that, insomnia was more common in unipolars and hypersomnia was more common in bipolar II."
Dr. Akiskal's much more inclusive view of bipolar, especially compared to DSM-IV, apparently is at least a bit controversial, but he seems to be "the man" on the leading edge of bipolar research (plus Dr. John Kelsoe regarding the genetics thereof. Both of them are are located in my city, San Diego. They are investigators for the MHCRC ( http://varesearch.ucsd.edu/gillin/mhcrc/default.htm ) which is associated with UCSD VA hospital, and Dr. Kelsoe is also a UCSD associate professor who is heading a genetics research program (regarding bipolar and depression) for UCSD psych. dept. ( http://www.bipolar.ucsd.edu/BPResearch.htm ).
I find it a bit ironic that I can hardly swing a dead cat in this town without hitting a major mental illness researcher, but it hasn't done me a bit of good. (I tried contacting Dr. Akiskal once; evidently he doesn't take patients anymore. Dr. Steven Stahl does, and he's plenty sharp, but I still ended up worse for having consulted him.)
peace and health,
S.D.
poster:S.D.
thread:50592
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001231/msgs/50666.html