Dbsalliance

Dr. Joseph Calabrese speaks with DBSA's Dr. Daniels about the differences, in terms of symptoms and treatment, between depression and bipolar disorder, especially bipolar II disorder. He explains the subtle symptoms of hypomania (bipolar II disorder's "mild high"), which is often overlooked by both mental health professionals and individuals living with the illness. He also addresses the several elements of treatment, including medication (traditional antidepressants versus mood stabilizers) and the importance of mood tracking, as well as family and peer support. Dr. Calabrese has written more than 200 scientific publications focusing on bipolar disorder and has presented his research on this illness and other psychiatric conditions to medical students and physicians in 11 different countries. In 2004, he received the National Alliance for Research Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) Lifetime Achievement Award for Psychiatric Research in mood disorders and was chosen by psychiatry residents as "Best Teacher