Overview and Symptoms
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder, described by the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), is a disorder that affects an individual’s mood, energy levels, and their ability to think clearly. It is classified as a mood disorder by the fifth edition of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-5). Researchers have found that people with Bipolar disorder alternate from two “poles”: emotional highs (mania) and emotional lows (depression). Everyone experiences shifts in their mood; however, people with Bipolar disorder experience these shifts more frequently and intensely. This is what separates Bipolar disorder from regular mood changes.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
It is important to note that Bipolar symptoms and their severity can vary from one person to another. Because of this, you should talk with your loved one to understand what symptoms they experience during their lows and highs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) identified the following symptoms associated with Bipolar disorder:
Types of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder exists on a spectrum, meaning that it can look different for each person. Still, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) highlights four main types that help explain the different ways it can appear. Understanding these types is a helpful first step in making sense of this complex condition.
Bipolar I
Those diagnosed with Bipolar I experience at least one episode of mania lasting at least seven days. If the episode does not last at least seven days, the episode must be severe enough that it requires them to be hospitalized. People with Bipolar I can have depressive episodes, but it is not a requirement for them to get diagnosed.
Bipolar II
People diagnosed with Bipolar II experience shifts from moderate to severe depressive episodes to hypomanic episodes. What distinguishes Bipolar I from Bipolar II is that people with Bipolar II will not experience a full manic episode. Their hypomanic episodes will last anywhere from twenty-four hours to four days. Also, it is required that someone experience at least one depressive episode lasting at least two weeks, unlike Bipolar I.
Knowing the difference between Bipolar I and Bipolar II can be confusing, especially since they have a lot in common. I've included a visual below to help explain their similarities and differences.
What is the difference between Bipolar I and Bipolar II?
Cyclothymic Disorder
People with Cyclothymic disorder do experience mood instability like Bipolar I and II, but their frequency is different. Cyclothymic disorder causes unstable moods for at least two years, where people experience mild depression and hypomanic episodes. However, where people with Bipolar I and II may have months where they do not have a hypomanic/manic or depressive episode, people with Cyclothymia only have brief periods of normal moods. These periods last no more than eight weeks.
"Other Specified" and "Unspecified" Bipolar Disorder
If your loved one does not fit the criteria for the types above, they will get diagnosed with either "other specified" or "unspecified" Bipolar disorder. People diagnosed in these two categories do hold similarities with Bipolar I, II, and Cyclothymia in that they do experience abnormal mood shifts.
If you are looking for more information on hypomania and mania, be sure to click the button below.