Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a serious chronic mental health condition, characterized by the presence of pronounced mood swings.

The medical condition was previously known as manic depression, and it is estimated that around 3% of the world's population over the age of 18 may be affected at some point in their life cycle.

The causes of bipolar disorder are diverse and not completely known, although it is estimated that the predisposition to bipolarity is largely inherited through genetics, and can be triggered throughout life by factors such as stress, pregnancy and the use of illicit drugs.

Typical treatment for Bipolar Disorder includes medications prescribed by a psychiatrist, psychological therapies, counseling, and education for family and friends.

Although there is no cure for the condition, with proper treatment it can be brought under control and affected individuals are usually able to work, have families and participate in all aspects of community life.

Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder is not an easy task, since it can be confused or present together with other psychological conditions of different course and severity, which makes it essential to go to a mental health professional to obtain a reliable diagnosis and beyond any doubt.

The TABS Bipolar Scale

The Triaxial Bipolar Spectrum Scale (TABS) was developed by Dr. Greg Mulhauser as a tool to help raise awareness of experiences that might be indicative of bipolar disorder in people over the age of 18.

It differs from other bipolar screening tools that can be found on the Internet by explicitly checking for factors that exclude a possible diagnosis, therefore its results may differ radically from those offered by older online tests.

At Psicopedia we have adapted the TABS Scale with the intention of providing a tool for exclusively personal and educational use, which in no case can replace the assessment carried out by a qualified professional in an appropriate clinical context.

It is important to clarify that the results of this test have not been compared with other structured tools (such as the SCID, for example) for the evaluation of validity in terms of sensitivity and specificity.

Therefore, this instrument should not be used to make a diagnosis, but only as a tool aimed at recognizing personal experiences that could suggest a bipolar spectrum disorder.