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Bipolar II Symptoms

Bipolar II symptoms are similar to other disorders such as depression and unipolar disorder. According the the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a person with bipolar II will not have the extreme manic episodes that interfere with a person's daily functioning.

  1. More Frequent Depressive Episodes

    • A person with bipolar II disorder will have depressive episodes more frequently than a person with a bipolar diagnosis. These depressive episodes can be extremely deep depressions.

    No Full-Blown Manic Episodes

    • A diagnosing symptom of bipolar II disorder is that the person does not experience full-blown manic episodes. They will experience episodes of hypomania, which is not as extreme.

    Higher Rates of Co-Morbidity

    • People with a diagnosis of bipolar II disorder have a higher rate of co-morbidity, including alcohol or drug use, anxiety and personality disorders.

    Elevated Suicide Risk

    • Due to frequent extreme depressions, people with bipolar II disorder have a higher risk of suicide. This may also be due to the fact that bipolar II is often misdiagnosed in patients, and they are not taking the correct medications for this disorder.

    Treatment

    • While there is no cure for bipolar II disorder, it is treatable with psychotherapy and medication.

    Warning

    • Only a licensed clinical psychologist or psychiatrist can accurately diagnose a person with bipolar II disorder. They will need to know the entire history and frequency of all mood swings.

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