- With Mayo Clinic psychiatrist
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
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Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Dr. Daniel Hall-Flavin, board certified in general psychiatry and addiction psychiatry, is a St. Louis native looking to the Internet as a way to help people improve their health and be more active participants in their own health care by learning from Mayo Clinic's experts.
Dr. Hall-Flavin has been a member of the faculties of Cornell University Medical College, New York Medical College, and The George Washington University Medical School before joining the Mayo Clinic staff in 1996. He has special interests in adult psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and psychogenomics. He has served as medical director of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence from 1986 to 1999.
"With the advent of the genomics and proteomics revolution and the pace of advances in medicine, informed collaborative relationships between knowledgeable, capable health professionals and informed, proactive individuals and their families are more vital than ever," he said.
"I'm optimistic that our Internet health education activities will contribute to ever-improving health outcomes for all who participate and apply what is learned."
Tests and diagnosis (2)
- Bipolar disorder in children: Is it possible?
- Bipolar disorder: Can it be misdiagnosed as depression?
Complications (1)
- Bipolar disorder and alcoholism: Are they related?
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Question
Bipolar disorder: Can it be misdiagnosed as depression?
I have been treated for severe depression for many years. In the last several years, my depression has become more difficult to control with antidepressants. I have had several suicide attempts and been hospitalized. Now, I'm being told that I have bipolar disorder. How is this possible? Can depression turn into bipolar disorder?
Answer
from Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Unfortunately, some types of bipolar disorder are commonly misdiagnosed as depression. Despite the fact that doctors are becomingly increasingly sophisticated in their understanding of mood disorders, making a diagnosis of bipolar disorder can in certain circumstances be challenging — even for the most experienced doctors.
Bipolar disorder was once thought to represent clear alternating patterns of extreme emotional highs and lows. But researchers are beginning to understand the subtle presentations of bipolar disorder in addition to the well-known, not-so-subtle behavioral patterns seen in some bipolar individuals. This has given rise to the term "bipolar spectrum disorders."
It is difficult to speculate on your individual circumstances. However, depressive disorders that are difficult to treat generally call for a reassessment of the original diagnosis as well as other assessments to find out why once-effective treatments no longer work.
Pharmacogenomic testing can evaluate for changes in the way the body is genetically programmed to metabolize certain medications. In addition, certain medical conditions and changes in your social or life situation can contribute to depression that is difficult to treat. So a comprehensive reassessment of all these factors is important when there is a change in response to antidepressant treatment.
Current theory holds that certain people have a genetic vulnerability to mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder and depression. Over time, environmental and biological changes can influence how those genes express themselves. It is important that if this is the case, your psychiatrist has expertise in managing these changes to ensure proper diagnosis and timely, efficient and safe management of your disease.
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