Bipolar III is a term commonly used as a label for mild bipolar disorder even though it is not an official diagnosis. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) has descriptions and diagnostic criteria for every mental illness recognized in the United States. Bipolar III is not included in the DSM.
There are two commonly used definitions for Bipolar III. Some people refer to cyclothymia, an official form of bipolar disorder, as Bipolar III. The other use of the term bipolar III refers to hypomania caused by antidepressants.
If a person has some symptoms of depression but not severe enough to be labeled as a depressive episode or clinical depression and has mild episodes of hypomania, the person may be diagnosed with cyclothymia. Soft bipolar is another term used to describe cyclothymia, though it may also be used to refer to bipolar II.
If a person has some episodes of depression that are too mild to warrant a diagnosis of depression, but no hypomania, they can still be diagnosed as having cyclothymia if the patient has a family history of bipolar disorder or has personality traits that are similar to symptoms of hypomania and usually requires a less than normal amount of sleep.
Bipolar III is also used in reference to mania that has been caused by excess antidepressants. People with bipolar disorder or clinical depression are commonly treated with antidepressants.
Antidepressants are often an important component in the treatment for mood disorders. Sometimes, a psychiatrist must try several different antidepressants and dosages before the right combination for the individual is found.
Treatment for bipolar III due to antidepressants includes lowering the dosage of the antidepressant of switching to a different medication. Cyclothymia may be treated with both medication and cognitive therapy.
If someone who is diagnosed with cyclothymia has a manic episode, the diagnosis is likely to be changed to bipolar I. Sometimes, people become frustrated by changing diagnoses, but sometimes it is necessary for a doctor to change diagnoses to reflect changes in the persons symptoms.
