Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 5/22/2007

Question
Hi,

How do I know if I'm bipolar or unipolar?

I was diagnosed 7 years ago with OCD and Unipolar depression and put on 20mg of prozac a day which worked like a charm, I had my life back.

I'm still on the prozac but lately it seems to be working less. I've been reading a ton on the web about this and it appears that bipolar is often misdiagnosed as unipolar and that SSRI's don't work with bipolar.  I've done all the, "Do I have bipolar" tests on the web and apparently I've never had a manic episode.

Is it possible that I was misdiagnosed or that my unipolar has somehow morphed into bipolar and that's why my prozac doesn't seem to be working as well?

Thanks  

Answer
Hi, John . . .

See the test at:
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.bipolar-screening.html
and then take the test results to a psychiatrist, who can combine your medicine response history with the test results and his/her observations to come up with a diagnosis.

Best regards . . .
Ivan
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