Is a diagnosis of "mood disorder" the same as bipolar? is bipolar the same as manic depressive. my grandaughter says not one meds r helping her

Manic-depressive: Manic-depressive = bipolar disorder. Mood disorder can be bipolar disorder but may also mean the diagnosis is not clear. If her meds are not helping her, urge her to discuss this with her doctor. With this diagnosis, she should be seeing a psychiatrist who has done a full evaluation and who will listen to what she is saying. It also helps when a patient's family let the dr know as well.

Bipolar=manic depres: Bipolar disorder is the same thing as manic depressive illness. It is simply a newer name for it. Bipolar disorder is one of a number of mood disorders including organic mood disorders, major depression recurrent, cyclothymic disorder, dysthymic disorder, and substance abuse related mood disorders. Hope this helps and good luck with your granddaughter.

Names: Manic depression is the historical term for now termed bipolar affective disorder. Bipolar disorder is one of a category of mood disorders.

Caution Warranted: "The 'epidemic' of childhood Bipolar Disorder has created a public health dilemma. Based on much hype & very little scientific evidence, a huge & heterogeneous cohort of explosive kids has received powerful treatments that can sometimes do much good, but sometimes do much harm." - Dr Allen Frances, was chair of DSM-IV Task Force, now Prof Emeritus, Dept of Psychiatry @DukeU http://bit.ly/1jFZt1