148 Bipolar and Related Disorders
Other Specified Bipolar and Related Disorder
296.89 (F31.89)
This category applies to presentations in which symptoms characteristic of a bipolar and
related disorder that cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupa-
tional, or other important areas of functioning predominate but do not meet the full criteria
for any of the disorders in the bipolar and related disorders diagnostic class. The other
specified bipolar and related disorder category is used in situations in which the clinician
chooses to communicate the specific reason that the presentation does not meet the cri-
teria for any specific bipolar and related disorder. This is done by recording “other speci-
fied bipolar and related disorder” followed by the specific reason (e.g., “short-duration
cyclothymia”).
Examples of presentations that can be specified using the “other specified” designation
include the following:
1.Short-duration hypomanic episodes (2–3 days) and ma jor depressive episodes:  A
lifetime history of one or more major depressive episodes in individuals whose presenta-
tion has never met full criteria for a manic or hypomanic episode but who have experienced
two or more episodes of short-duration hypoma nia that meet the full symptomatic criteria
for a hypomanic episode but that only last for 2–3 days. The episodes of hypomanic symp-
toms do not overlap in time with the major depressive episodes, so the disturbance does
not meet criteria for major depressive episode, with mixed features.
2.Hypomanic episodes with insufficient  symptoms and major depressive epi-
sodes: A lifetime history of one or more major depressive episodes in individuals
whose presentation has never met full criteria for a manic or hypomanic episode but
who have experienced one or more episodes of hypomania that do not meet full symp-