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Bipolar Disorder
SYMPTOMS
Bipolar disorder is often not recognized by the patient, relatives, friends, or even physicians. An early sign of manic-depressive illness may be hypomania--a state in which the person shows a high level of energy, excessive moodiness or irritability, and impulsive or reckless behavior.
Hypomania may feel good to the person who experiences it. Thus, even when family and friends learn to recognize the mood swings, the individual often will deny that anything is wrong.
In its early stages, bipolar disorder may masquerade as a problem other than mental illness. For example, it may first appear as alcohol or drug abuse, or poor school or work performance.
If left untreated, bipolar disorder tends to worsen, and the person experiences episodes of full-fledged mania and clinical depression.
One of the usual differential diagnoses for bipolar disorder is that the symptoms (listed below) are not better accounted for by Schizoaffective Disorder and is not superimposed on Schizophreniform Disorder, Delusional Disorder, Schizophrenia, or Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.
And as with nearly all mental disorder diagnoses, the symptoms must cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Goldberg Mania Questionnaire
Ivan Goldberg
Use this questionnaire to help determine if you need to see a mental health
professional for diagnosis and treatment of mania or manic-depression or bipolar disorder.
Instructions: You might reproduce this scale and use it on a weekly basis to track your moods. It also might be used to show your doctor how your symptoms have changed from one visit to the next. Changes of five or more points are significant. This scale is not designed to make a diagnosis of mania or take the place of a professional diagnosis. If you suspect that you are manic, please consult with a mental health professional as soon as possible.
The 18 items below refer to how you have felt and behaved DURING THE PAST WEEK. For each item, indicate the extent to which it is true, by checking the appropriate box next to the item.
1. My mind has never been sharper.
Not at all
Just a little
Somewhat
Moderately
Quite a lot
Very much
2. I need less sleep than usual.
Not at all
Just a little
Somewhat
Moderately
Quite a lot
Very much
3. I have so many plans and new ideas that it is hard for me to work.
Not at all
Just a little
Somewhat
Moderately
Quite a lot
Very much
4. I feel a pressure to talk and talk.
Not at all
Just a little
Somewhat
Moderately
Quite a lot
Very much
5. I have been particularly happy.
Not at all
Just a little
Somewhat
Moderately
Quite a lot
Very much
6. I have been more active than usual.
Not at all
Just a little
Somewhat
Moderately
Quite a lot
Very much
7. I talk so fast that people have a hard time keeping up with me.
Not at all
Just a little
Somewhat
Moderately
Quite a lot
Very much
8. I have more new ideas than I can handle.
Not at all
Just a little
Somewhat
Moderately
Quite a lot
Very much
9. I have been irritable.
Not at all
Just a little
Somewhat
Moderately
Quite a lot
Very much
10. It's easy for me to think of jokes and funny stories.
Not at all
Just a little
Somewhat
Moderately
Quite a lot
Very much
11. I have been feeling like "the life of the party."
Not at all
Just a little
Somewhat
Moderately
Quite a lot
Very much
12. I have been full of energy.
Not at all
Just a little
Somewhat
Moderately
Quite a lot
Very much
13. I have been thinking about sex.
Not at all
Just a little
Somewhat
Moderately
Quite a lot
Very much
14. I have been feeling particularly playful.
Not at all
Just a little
Somewhat
Moderately
Quite a lot
Very much
15. I have special plans for the world.
Not at all
Just a little
Somewhat
Moderately
Quite a lot
Very much
16. I have been spending too much money.
Not at all
Just a little
Somewhat
Moderately
Quite a lot
Very much
17. My attention keeps jumping from one idea to another.
Not at all
Just a little
Somewhat
Moderately
Quite a lot
Very much
18. I find it hard to slow down and stay in one place.
Not at all
Just a little
Somewhat
Moderately
Quite a lot
Very much
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