Validating Antidepressant-Associated Hypomania (Bipolar III): a Systematic Comparison With Spontaneous Hypomania (Bipolar II)

The authors investigated whether hypomania which occurs solely during antidepressant treatment belongs to the category of bipolar II, by comparing 144 patients who had bipolar II with spontaneous hypomania, with 52 patients who had hypomania associated solely with antidepressants. The latter group was found to have significantly more family history of suicide, higher ratings on depressive temperament, greater chronicity of depression, increased likelihood of being admitted to the hospital for suicidal depressions, & increased likelihood of having psychotic features. The authors submit that familial bipolarity strongly favors their inclusion within the realm of bipolar II. (51 refs)