Angst et al3-98 found that the diagnostic stability of several nonbipolar depressive disorders (major depressive disorder, dysthymia, recurrent brief depression, and minor depression) was low (ie, high shifting from one disorder to another one), questioning the categorical classification of nonbipolar learn more depression and supporting a spectrum of nonbipolar depressive disorders. Judd et al10-13 found, in bipolar I disorder and in bipolar II disorder, that, during the longterm course, minor depressions and depressive symptoms were much more Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical prevalent than mania/hypomania

and major depressive episodes (three times more frequent than syndromal depression and mania/hypomania), especially in bipolar II disorder. In both disorders, the number, duration, and severity of depressive Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical symptoms fluctuated over time, as well as manic/hypomanic symptoms, supporting a dimensional/spectrum view of depression and mania/hypomania. Judd et al found that bipolar II depression was more likely Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical than bipolar I depression to be long-lasting and to have a fluctuating course of severity and duration (ie, major and minor depressions, and depressive symptoms), and to have more anxiety disorder comorbidity. On the other hand, bipolar I disorder was more likely to have long-term

fluctuating manic/hypomanic/cycling episodes and manic/hypomanic symptoms. Patients were Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical symptomatically ill for 50% of the weeks studied. In major depressive disorder, Judd et al found that minor depressions and depressive symptoms were much more common (three times) than major depressive episodes, and that symptom number, severity, and duration changed frequently, alternating over time. Patients were symptomatically ill for 60% of the weeks studied. The findings supported a spectrum view of nonbipolar depressive disorders.

The diagnostic validity of minor depression Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical was supported by Rapaport et al.99 Minor depression was defined by the symptoms of the major depressive episode, which had to be less than five but more than two, lasting at least 2 weeks. Minor depression, compared with major depressive disorder, had more mood Carfilzomib and cognitive symptoms, but not the classical neurovegetative symptoms. History of major depressive disorder was present in only 30%, the main finding supporting its diagnostic validity. The current status of minor depression is unclear. Recurrent brief depressive disorder Recurrent brief depressive disorder research criteria require meeting major depressive episode criteria, apart from the duration, which should be between at least 2 days but less than 2 weeks. It should occur at least once a month for 12 consecutive months. It must not meet criteria for major depressive episode, dysthymic disorder, mania, hypomania, or cyclothymic disorder.