1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Bipolar Disorder

What Are Specifiers?

By Kimberly Read & Marcia Purse, About.com

Updated: February 15, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Question: What Are Specifiers?

Answer: Specifiers are extensions to a diagnosis that further clarify the course, severity, or special features of a disorder or illness. The Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) uses these extensively in the diagnosis of mood disorders. For bipolar disorder, there are two categories - those for defining the current or most recent episode and those concerning the course of recurrent (repeating) episodes.

The specifiers from the DSM-IV include:

  1. Current or Most Recent Episode - manic, mixed, or major depressive

  2. Course of Recurrent Episodes
    • Longitudinal (over a long period of time)
    • Seasonal Pattern
    • Rapid Cycling
by Kimberly Read

References:
American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR™).

Frequently Asked Questions

More Bipolar Disorder Q&A

Explore Bipolar Disorder

More from About.com

About.com is accredited by the Health On the Net Foundation, which promotes reliable and trusted online health information.
  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Bipolar Disorder
  4. Diagnosis & Symptoms
  5. Defining Bipolar Disorder
  6. Frequently Asked Questions
  7. What Are Specifiers? - Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.