ANXIETY DISORDERS

Composite Diagnostic Evaluation

Thomas A. Ban, M.D.

 

Polarity

The third organizing principle of psychiatric nosology, polarity, is based on Leonhard’s (1957) conceptualization of the distinctions between polymorphic (multiforms) — bipolar — disorders and monomorphic (pure) — unipolar — disorders; and it was on the basis of polarity that Leonhard (1957) separated unipolar phasic psychoses from bipolar manic depressive psychoses. In terms of anxiety disorders, however, polarity does not play an important role.