The validity of two Newcastle Diagnostic Scales in the affective disorders. Bimodality and other correlates

Current evidence on the issue of bimodality in the affective disorders is reviewed. A series of 180 consecutive hospital patients with affective disorders were scored on the 1965 and 1972 Newcastle Diagnostic Scales. The 1965 (Carney) scale produced a bimodal distribution which was accounted for by the bipolar and unipolar groups, and some implications are discussed.