The Tip sheet below lists factors that may help identify uni polar depression.

■ Prepubertal onset of symptoms
■ Brief duration of depressed episodes
■ High frequency of depressed episodes
■ Seasonal pattern
■ Postpartum symptom onset
[b]■ Multiple antidepressant failures[/b]
[b]■ Nonresponse to antidepressant treatment[/b]
■ Rapid response to antidepressant treatment
■ Erratic response to antidepressant treatment
■ Dysphoric response to antidepressant treatment with agitation and insomnia
■ Family history of bipolar disorder
■ History of unstable interpersonal relationships
■ Frequent vocational problems
■ Frequent legal problems
■ Alcohol and drug use

■ Bipolar I disorder, with episodes of full-blown mania, is usually easier to diagnose than bipolar II disorder, with episodes of subtler hypomania
■ Recognizing that the primary mood state may be irritability rather than euphoria increases the likelihood of diagnosis
■ Focusing more on overactivity than mood change further improves diagnostic accuracy
■ Bipolar disorder is associated with a significantly elevated risk of suicide
■ Bipolar patients often use highly lethal means for suicide

■ Early age at disease onset
■ The high number of depressive episodes
■ History of antidepressant-induced mania
■ Traits of hostility and impulsitivity