Bipolar II Disorder

Bipolar II disorder is a bipolar spectrum disorder characterized by at least one hypomanic episode and at least one major depressive episode; with this disorder, depressive episodes are more frequent and more intense than manic episodes. Sometimes severe symptoms can make it extremely difficult, or sometimes impossible, to function in work, school, or at home. People with Bipolar Disorder may be depressed or irritable and violent. The hypomanic episodes associated with bipolar II disorder must last all day for a period of at least four days. It is believed to be under-diagnosed because hypomanic behavior often presents as high-functioning behavior.Those with bipolar II are at highest risk of suicide among the bipolar spectrum. Hypomania in bipolar II may manifest itself in disorganized racing thoughts, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, or all of the above combined. Because these agitated symptoms are negative, it may be difficult to distinguish a bipolar II hypomanic state from depression. Hypomania is often regarded as an elation of mood, however, mood may be negative in bipolar II hypomania.

People with bipolar type II disorder have a more severe illness than those with type I disorder. This is due to the severity and increased amount of depression episodes and an increase in the time in between these episodes. The residual effects of the depressive episodes last longer and the symptoms persist much longer with patients of bipolar type II than patients of bipolar type I. There are several factors involved in determining the severity of each form of bipolar disorder, including age, sex, family history, and the use of various treatments. Lithium treatments are more frequently used with patients of bipolar type I disorder, and their psychotic symptoms are less severe than patients of type II disorder. When compared to people with bipolar type I and healthy subjects, type II patients performed poorly on psychological tests such as semantic verbal skills, verbal learning, and memory tasks. Attention span was also much lower for both groups with bipolar disorder.

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