Donna these are the diagnostic criteria currently in effect.

scroll down to Mood Disorders. you can then click on one of the single disorders (bipolar 1, bipolar 2... etc)

http://www.behavenet.com/apa-diagnos...-dsm-iv-tr#301

For Bipolar 1 mania is required, not necessarily depression, however if you look into the different sub-dx's, you'll see they refer to "recurrences" which can mean either no mania for 2 months or a switch to Major Depressive Episode.

For Bipolar 2 depression is required as well as hypomania which must not, however, meet the criteria for mania as i mentioned above.

that is more precise than my post and it is from the horses mouth.

now keep in mind docs do not follow DSM strictly... they use it as a guideline. so it is possible your sis has shown sx that point to bipolar 1 at some point if they gave her that dx.

it does not make a lot of difference in that treatment is the same... some meds work and/or are better tolerated by some individuals than others... it's trial and error.

take care

waves