In conducting their work, the Mood Disorders Work Group has focused its energies in particular on three major objectives: 1) deciding what "works" and what does not "work" in the current Mood Disorders categories and criteria, 2) assessing new research developments and issues that have arisen since 1992 that might impact on the categories and criteria for Mood Disorders and 3) developing a work plan to address these first two objectives using literature reviews, secondary data analyses and information from field trials.

On the basis of these activities, the Work Group has determined that the following questions should be resolved with respect to bipolar disorders: 1) whether the criteria for manic episodes should include a greater emphasis on increased energy and/or activity, 2) for hypomanic episodes, how long should the minimum period be to recognize such an episode, 3) whether it is reasonable to replace the current definition of a mixed episode, perhaps by substituting a mixed features specifier to each mood episode type, 4) whether the concept of antidepressant-induced switches is a valid one, 5) whether the diagnosis of cyclothymia should be retained, considering the various other changes being made, 6) whether is it possible to increase the level of precision with which severity is determined within a specific diagnosis, 7) whether it is reasonable to include the possible presence of manic features in an episode major depression in the absence of any bipolar diagnosis and 8) whether it is possible to develop specific criteria for severe mood dysregulation in children and adolescents.