Bipolar II disorder

Bipolar II disorder (BP-II) is a <a href="/facts/Mood_disorder/Y0Mjq3QR">mood disorder</a> on the <a href="/facts/Bipolar_spectrum/aMDwXbV0">bipolar spectrum</a>, characterized by at least one <a href="/facts/Hypomanic_episode/ruB9Uwrx">episode of hypomania</a> and at least one <a href="/facts/Major_depressive_episode/pnjIjQno">episode of major depression</a>. Diagnosis for BP-II requires that the individual must never have experienced a full <a href="/facts/Manic_episode/qYV8BBbt">manic episode</a>. Otherwise, one manic episode meets the criteria for <a href="/facts/Bipolar_I_disorder/YWtzmKGI">bipolar I disorder</a> (BP-I).
Hypomania is a sustained state of elevated or irritable mood that is less severe than <a href="/facts/Mania/qYV8BBbt">mania</a> yet may still significantly affect the quality of life and result in permanent consequences including reckless spending, damaged relationships and poor judgment.: 1651  Unlike mania, hypomania cannot include <a href="/facts/Psychosis/cVGd7MKK">psychosis</a>. The hypomanic episodes associated with BP-II must last for at least four days.
Commonly, depressive episodes are more frequent and more intense than hypomanic episodes. Additionally, when compared to BP-I, type II presents more frequent depressive episodes and shorter intervals of well-being. The course of BP-II is more chronic and consists of more frequent cycling than the course of BP-I. Finally, BP-II is associated with a greater risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors than BP-I or <a href="/facts/Unipolar_depression/l2lQeWqr">unipolar depression</a>. BP-II is no less severe than BP-I, and types I and II present equally severe burdens.
BP-II is notoriously difficult to diagnose. Patients usually seek help when they are in a depressed state, or when their hypomanic symptoms manifest themselves in unwanted effects, such as high levels of <a href="/facts/Anxiety/Geekl883">anxiety</a>, or the seeming inability to focus on tasks. Because many of the symptoms of hypomania are often mistaken for high-functioning behavior or simply attributed to personality, patients are typically not aware of their hypomanic symptoms. In addition, many people with BP-II have periods of normal <a href="/facts/Affect_(psychology)/jEQ6IWSm">affect</a>. As a result, when patients seek help, they are very often unable to provide their doctor with all the information needed for an accurate assessment; these individuals are often misdiagnosed with unipolar depression. BP-II is more common than BP-I, while BP-II and major depressive disorder have about the same rate of diagnosis. <a href="/facts/Substance_use_disorder/pSbdzb6a">Substance use disorders</a> (which have high co-morbidity with BP-II) and periods of mixed depression may also make it more difficult to accurately identify BP-II. Despite the difficulties, it is important that BP-II individuals be correctly assessed so that they can receive the proper treatment. Antidepressant use, in the absence of mood stabilizers, is correlated with worsening BP-II symptoms.

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Bipolar II disorder