Learn All about Bipolar II and Related Disorders

Bipolar is caused by a disorder in the brain, and sometimes also called by the name " manic depression " or " manic-depressive illness ". It is a very complicated mood disorder marked by severe mood swings – from high (mania) irritable and overly happy/ to low (depressed) sad and no energy, and then periods of normal mood in between the mania and depression. With these mood changes also goes with the energy levels, high energy in mania symptoms and low energy for depression.

Bipolar II or Bipolar 2

Not like bipolar I, bipolar II does not involve manic episodes. There are four types of Bipolar Disorders, bipolar I, bipolar II, bipolar NOS and Cyclothymic Disorder. Bipolar II Disorder is marked by at least one severe episode of depression and at least a hippo manic symptom moving into psychotic mania – this according to – DSM-IV-TR – the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Between bipolar 1 and bipolar II, bipolar 2 can be quite difficult to diagnose, because bipolar II is similar to comorbid (combined) anxiety and depression.

How common can we Expect Bipolar II?

Most experts believe that bipolar II is the most common form of Bipolar, with researchers even saying that it affects more than five percent of the whole population. While Bipolar Disorder may initially develop in late adolescence or early adulthood , some children may have bipolar symptoms as early as age two only later to be diagnosed as bipolar.

Should we expect Different kinds of Bipolar II?

When 4 or more mood episodes of bipolar illness happening within one year period, that person can be in the group of a rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. But, lots of experts consider this to be quite a conservative definition, because some individuals experience several mood episodes within a week, or even in a day. When patients have these changes daily or weekly it is said that they are going through ultra rapid-cycling. Much more common in women than in men – rapid cycling have the tendency to develop much later during the period of the illness and is very difficult to diagnose and treat.

Symptoms of Bipolar II Disorder

Another way of looking at bipolar II disorder is- it is a milder form of a bipolar disorder, which includes cases of depression that interchange with hypomania not mania symptoms. Some of the signs are:

• having a continuous, high or irritable mood, but the absence of psychosis, or loss of touch with reality, found in severe manic symptoms.

• At least one severe episode of depression, and one hippo manic episode. Patients with bipolar II symptoms are not psychotic with delusions and hallucinations.

Bipolar II Treatment

Although bipolar II is probably not caused by traumatic experiences, such factors as abuse can affect the recovery of a bipolar II victim . It is good to approach bipolar II with both medication and therapy for full recovery. When these two are combined together – bipolar medication and cognitive behavioral therapy, victims of bipolar II respond quickly and successfully. With early treatment, bipolar I and II patients can live a more healthy and normal lives and also attain successful relationships with their loved ones.