Abstract
Objective: To compare the personality, clinical and comorbidity characteristics of subjects meeting diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (BDNOS) to those with major depression and bipolar I or II disorder.
Methods: A family-based study was undertaken on the molecular genetics of depression and personality, in which the proband had been treated for depression, regardless of history, of hypomania or mania.
Results: The 25 subjects with BDNOS were different to the 297 subjects with major depression and similar to 75 subjects with bipolar I or II disorder on social phobia, obsessive–compulsive disorder and substance dependence comorbidity. The BDNOS subjects also had personality traits more akin to the bipolar I or II disorder subjects, especially borderline personality traits and self transcendence.
Conclusions: Subjects with BDNOS, based on a history of 1–3 day recurrent hypomanias, should be included within a broader bipolar spectrum.
