MHM Magazine

24 | MENTALHEALTHMATTERS | Issue 2 | 2021 MHM mostly of: Impulsivity, labile Affect and emotional dysregulation. Many other disorders should be considered in the differential diagnosis, including personality disorders and ADHD. Although everything is done to fight the stigmatisation of psychiatric diagnosis, we must understand that being diagnosed with a chronic mental disorder has many socio-political implications and the diagnosis should not be made too easily. Patients who don’t feel comfortable with a specific diagnosis or treatment should ask for a second opinion. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS AND CO-MORBIDITIES In patients who present with features of Bipolarity, but don’t qualify for a formal diagnosis, the differential diagnosis should be considered, because many other mental disorders may present with impulsivity, mood dysregulation and affective lability. The differential diagnosis of Bipolar disorders includes: major depression, various anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, personality disorders (i.e. borderline personality disorder,) and ADHD. People who present with prominent irritability don’t necessarily suffer from a Bipolar disorder. People with Bipolar disorder may have other comorbidities which complicates the diagnosis and may cause poor response to treatment. Some comorbidities need separate attention in the management protocols. SUMMARY Mood disorders and Bipolar disorders have many variants and should not all be treated as the same illness, like different types and different grades of cancer, their prognosis also differs. Patients need to understand exactly what a specific diagnosis means and what the future implications of their diagnosis and long term treatment are. The diagnosis should not be made without careful consideration; equally if you have a serious illness you shouldn’t deny it, but get early and optimal treatment to prevent further complications. Early treatment of most mental disorders can prevent progression to more complicated illnesses and prevent brain damage which occurs with multiple relapses. References are available on request. Patients who don’t feel comfortable with a specific diagnosis or treatment should ask for a second opinion.