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CHICAGO, IL – In an unprecedented update to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, three previous separate diagnostic categories will be collapsed into one. “We hade massive numbers of patients presenting with bipolar disorder, depression, and borderline personality traits; or some combination thereof”, states Dr. Frances Sigmund, program director of psychiatry at Marymount University.

“After a while we were struck with the realization that these patients were essentially the same, and we needed to rethink our clinical approach”. A comprehensive chart review at psychiatric facilities affiliated with Marymount revealed that, following an initial diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, patients had a 93% chance of being diagnosed with either bipolar disorder or depression in the subsequent year.

Dr. Sigmund ultimately discovered that these compelling findings had significant implications for treatment. “Often psychiatry is overburdened with the multiple types of pharmacotherapy that currently exist, adding to the already highly complex nature of our specialty. What we’ve found here is a case of less is more: we’ll simply prescribe individuals presenting with this constellation of symptomatology 10 mg Haloperidol and 2 mg Ativan moving forward”.

The new treatment paradigm has been well-received by the American Psychiatric Association that is currently working to formally title the new diagnostic category. “Now that psychiatry as a specialty can spend less time on diagnosing and treating mental health concerns, we are concerting our efforts at exploring and naming”.

Multiple names have been suggested, including ‘Mixed Mood Affective Instability Disorder with Manic Traits’ and ‘Gender Neutral Hysteria’; but a final decision has yet to be reached. Never one to rest on his laurels, Dr. Sigmund has moved on to further projects, putting his patient care activities on hold while he studies new ways to condense other psychiatric disorders. “Myself and my research team are currently working on a way to combine generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD, and insomnia. Stay tuned!”.

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