Mixed mood states: Baffled, bewildered, befuddled and bemused.

Abstract

Now that both the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association 5th edition) and the ICD-11 (International Classification of Diseases 11th revision) have chimed in, what are we to conclude about the modern diagnosis of mood disorders, especially mood states with mixtures of mania and depression? Alas, it appears that patients with identical mixtures of symptoms of mania and depression are destined to be diagnosed differently in DSM-5 vs. ICD-11. Perhaps more importantly, what are we to conclude now about current best practices for treatment across the panorama of mood disorders having various new mixed diagnostic criteria? Unfortunately, patients with identical mixtures of symptoms of mania and depression but with different diagnoses may also be treated differently, with some patients that have mixed symptoms but not a mixed diagnosis under both systems potentially receiving agents that may not work or even cause them harm. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.