Bipolar Disorder Often Misdiagnosed For Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
New findings published in the Journal of Proteome Research examine how to tell the difference between major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder. Researchers note how the two are very commonly misdiagnosed.
In fact, statistics show that as many as 40 percent of patients may initially receive another diagnosis at first that can take up to several years before it is corrected, according to Charles Bowden, MD, of the University of Texas Health Center in San Antonio, who was not involved in the study.
According to study results, the initial diagnosis, which is oftentimes the onset of depression, can start the misdiagnosis of MDD. Though bipolar is only estimated to affect about 1 percent of the population, physicians might not always initially ask patients about euphoric, hyperactive or hypomanic states that are also characteristic of bipolar disorder.
"As a result, bipolar disorder can be difficult to diagnose, even by experienced psychiatrists," said Bowden, via WebMD.
As it stands, current diagnostic techniques typically involve structured interviews with patients. Unfortunately, these can oftentimes be subjective and even misleading. However, it's essential that patients receive an accurate diagnosis for proper treatments so that health officials can set out to develop an objective way to determine the difference between MDD and bipolar disorder.
To learn more about the difference between bipolar disorder and MDD, check out this link, courtesy of WebMD.
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