Types of Bipolar Disorder
Types of Bipolar DisorderThe American Psychiatric Association (APA) divides bipolar disorder into four categories (types). They are bipolar I, bipolar II, cyclothymia and bipolar not-otherwise-specified (NOS).
1. Bipolar I Disorder
Bipolar I disorder is the diagnosis given to an individual who is experienced, a full syndrome of manic episodes that is usually followed by periods of major depression. The symptoms last for at least one week. Some people with bipolar I, however, may not have severe depression.
Client with bipolar I disorder may also has experienced mixed symptoms. This means that the client has both manic and depressive mood in the same episode.
People with severe bipolar I disorder almost always leads to hospitalization. They lose touch with reality and at high risk for suicide.
2. Bipolar II Disorder
Bipolar II disorder is characterized by recurrent bouts of major depression with the episodic occurrence of hypomania. This individual has never experienced a full syndrome of manic or mixed symptoms.
Hypomania is a milder form of mania in which symptoms last at least four days. Bipolar II previously called hypomania.
People with bipolar II often like the way they feel during episodes of hypomania. They have a high level of energy. They’re able to make decisions easily, and are creative, enthusiastic, and self confident.
Although episodes of hypomania seems fairly harmless, but people with bipolar II disorder can have extreme behaviors. They may make foolish decisions or act in embarrassing ways. Sooner or later, though, a major depression crushes their good feelings.
People with bipolar II disorder generally do not become psychotic or require hospitalization. If undiagnosed and untreated, however, hypomania can develop into bipolar I.
3. Cyclothymic Disorder
The essential feature is a chronic mood disturbance of at least 2 years’ duration, involving numerous periods of depression and hypomania, but not of sufficient severity and duration to meet the criteria for either bipolar I or II disorder. There is an absence of psychotic features. People with cyclothymia often will not seek treatment because their mood changes are not extreme. However, about one-third of people with cyclothymia will have bipolar I or bipolar II later in life.
4. Bipolar Not-Otherwise-Specified (NOS)
Bipolar NOS refers to forms of the illness that do not fit the other three types above
The bipolar NOS label often applies to the following cases:
- Rapid fluctuations in mood that may be intense enough to qualify as manic, hypomanic, or depressive but that don’t fulfill the duration requirements for a bipolar I, bipolar II, or cyclothymic disorder diagnosis.
- Hypomania without depression.
- Mania or cyclothymic disorder occurring simultaneously with schizophrenia, psychotic disorder NOS, or delusional disorder (a disorder that typically results in psychoses, hallucinations, and delusional thinking).
- Chronic depression and/or dysthymia (long-term, low-level depression) accompanied by hypomanic episodes.
Rapid Cycling Includes In The Types Of Bipolar Disorder
Rapid cycling isn’t a separate type of bipolar disorder, but it is used to describe a particular subtype of Bipolar I or II. The term cycling refers to the length of time between episodes. During the time between highs and lows, the person may feel calm-neither depressed nor manic. However, some people with bipolar disorder may feel mild mania or depression between the highs and lows. Others cycle so fast they never feel calm.About 20 percent of people with bipolar I and II have rapid cycling. Their high and low moods alternate at least 4 times in 12 months. Rapid cycling often is more difficult to treat.
The above are types of bipolar disorder; all involve episodes of depression and mania. Some people with bipolar disorder have severe symptoms while others have only mild symptoms. Episodes of depression or mania last a long time in some people, and only a short time in others.
