THE REPRODUCIBILITY OF DEPRESSIVE AND HYPOMANIC SYMPTOMS ACROSS REPEATED EPISODES IN PATIENTS WITH RAPID-CYCLING BIPOLAR DISORDER

The purpose of this study is to determine the stability of symptoms of hypomania and depression across repeated affective episodes in patien ts with rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. Nine patients had a total of 3 0 depressive episodes and 31 hypomanic episodes during the period of o bservation. Standardized observer ratings indicated that the three sym ptoms most consistently reported during depressive episodes were fatig uability, decreased work activities and hypersomnia. These results as well as those from the standarized observer ratings of hypomania indic ate that depression in this population consists of a lethargic, hypoac tive state while hypomania may be a heightened state of activation. Th e clinical and theoretical implications of these findings are discusse d.