Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: Stress, Depression and Brain Structure. How I Overcame Bipolar II (and Saved My Own Life) Bipolar I and Bipolar II - What's the Difference? If you have only average knowledge of bipolar disorder, you may not know that there are two major forms of the illness - bipolar I and bipolar II (also known as bipolar 1 and 2), which are separate diagnoses. More people - and maybe you're one of them - have become interested in bipolar II because celebrities like Catherine Zeta-Jones and Demi Lovato have revealed they're diagnosed with bipolar II disorder.
There are significant differences between these two forms of bipolar disorder. The information below is taken mostly from the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (or DSM-5). Note: Because the terms bipolar I and II are used interchangeably with bipolar 1 and 2 (bipolar II is even often mistyped as bipolar 11!) Continue reading below our video Loaded: 0% Progress: 0% The most important distinctions between bipolar I and II are: A person with bipolar I has manic episodes, while someone with bipolar II has hypomanic episodes.
Bipolar II disorder. Bipolar II is difficult to diagnose. Patients usually seek help when they are in a depressed state. Because 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. Signs and symptoms[edit] Hypomanic episodes[edit] Hypomania is characterized by euphoria and/or an irritable mood.
GrandiosityDecreased need for sleepIncreased talkativenessRacing thoughtsDistractibilityOveractivity, especially in goal-directed areasPsychomotor agitationExcessive participation in risky behaviors, such as hypersexuality It is important to distinguish between hypomania and mania. Depressive episodes[edit] It is during depressive episodes that BP-II patients often seek help. Low energy levelsCessation of usual activitiesBlack and white thinkingUnrealistic pessimismOvergeneralizationAutomatic thoughtsMaladaptive assumptionsDysfunctional personal schemas[7]Thoughts of suicideIsolation from people.
D.S.M. Revisions May Sharply Increase Addiction Diagnoses. DSM5 Should Not Expand Bipolar II Disorder. One of the most important distinctions in all of psychiatry is often also the most difficult to make- is the patient's depression part of a bipolar or a unipolar course of mood disorder . This is so consequential a decision because treating the depression of bipolar disorder with antidepressants can trigger problematic irritability, mood swings, and rapid cycling. To reduce this risk, patients receiving antidepressants for bipolar depression usually also receive either a mood stabilizer or an antipsychotic (or too often both). But the reduced risk of mood swings conferred by the covering medication comes at a potentially heavy cost in side effects and complications (especially dangerous weight gain and diabetes).
The tough question is where to draw the diagnostic line between bipolar and unipolar mood disorder in a way that best balances the risks of taking vs not taking the covering medication. The trend in diagnostic habits over the past twenty five years has been clear. My experiences with Bipolar II and Lamictal. Evidence Shows Bipolar II is as Disabling as Bipolar I - For Different Reasons. It's pretty common to think of bipolar II disorder as being a "less serious" illness than bipolar I, but Drs. Holly A. Swartz, and Michael E. Thase have concluded differently. According to their article in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, bipolar II "is at least as disabling as bipolar I disorder. " The reasons given are that people with bipolar II: Experience a more chronic course of illness, Have more lifetime days spent depressed, and Have a lower probability of returning to prior levels of functioning between episodes than those with bipolar I disorder.
If you're diagnosed with bipolar II, does this analysis change the way you think about your illness, or just seem to confirm what you felt about it already? Bipolar I DisorderBipolar II DisorderDifferences Between Bipolar I and Bipolar II. Helping a Loved One with Bipolar Disorder: Children, Teens, and Family. Helping a family member or friend with bipolar disorder Dealing with the ups and downs of bipolar disorder can be difficult—and not just for the person with the illness. The moods and behaviors of a person with bipolar disorder affect everyone around—especially family members and close friends. During a manic episode, you may have to cope with reckless antics, outrageous demands, explosive outbursts, and irresponsible decisions. And once the whirlwind of mania has passed, it often falls on you to deal with the consequences. During episodes of depression, you may have to pick up the slack for a loved one who doesn’t have the energy to meet responsibilities at home or work.
The good news is that most people with bipolar disorder can stabilize their moods with proper treatment, medication, and support—and you can play a significant role in his or her recovery. Here are some other ways you can help: Learn about bipolar disorder. The importance of support in bipolar disorder recovery Suicide.