Types of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They are different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through from time to time. People with bipolar disorder experience mood swings from "high" episodes of mania to "low" periods of depression. When between these "highs" and "lows", people with the disorder often have the normal range of moods.  Bipolar disorder symptoms can cause in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide.

Bipolar disorder often develops in a person's late teens or early adult years. At least half of all cases start before age 25 and some people have their first symptoms during childhood, while others may develop symptoms late in life.  Bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million adult Americans, or about 2.6% of the U.S. population age 18 and older every year.

Bipolar disorder is not easy to spot when it starts. The symptoms may seem like separate problems, not recognized as parts of a larger problem. Some people suffer for years before they are properly diagnosed and treated.

According to the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), there are four basic types of bipolar disorder:

1.Bipolar I disorder is mainly defined by manic or mixed episodes that last at least seven days, or by manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs immediate hospital care. Usually, the person also has depressive episodes, typically lasting at least two weeks. The symptoms of mania or depression must be a major change from the person's normal behavior. A person affected by Bipolar I disorder has had at least one manic episode in his or her life.

2.Bipolar II Disorder is defined by a pattern of depressive episodes shifting back and forth with hypomanic episodes, but no full-blown manic or mixed episodes. The Bipolar II disorder is characterized by the occurrence of at least one hypomania episode and one major depressive state. Sometimes, this type may even have occurrences of more depressive episodes. In some cases, hypomania actually enables the individual to excel in their fields of expertise. The state of hypomania can be apparent in people that are top achievers in the work environment and at parties. The symptoms in hypomania are mostly positive and may run for about four days before it subsides. Nevertheless its manifestation is obvious and can be observed clearly by other people, it doesn’t cause any disruption in normal functional settings.

3. Cyclothymic disorder, or Cyclothymia, is a mild form of bipolar disorder. While cyclothymic disorder is not as severe as either Bipolar I or II, the condition is more chronic. Hypomanic symptoms tend toward irritability as compared to the more ecstatic symptoms of Bipolar II. People who have cyclothymia have episodes of hypomania that shift back and forth with mild depression for at least two years. However, the symptoms do not meet the diagnostic requirements for any other type of bipolar disorder.

4. Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (BP-NOS) is diagnosed when a person has symptoms of the illness that do not meet diagnostic standards for either Bipolar I or II. The symptoms may not last long enough, or the person may have too few symptoms, to be diagnosed with Bipolar I or II. However, the symptoms are clearly out of the person's normal range of behavior.

To this date, there is no cure for bipolar disorder. But proper managing helps most people with bipolar disorder gain better control of their mood swings and related symptoms.  Because bipolar disorder is a lifelong and recurrent illness, people with the disorder need long-term treatment to maintain control of bipolar symptoms. An effective maintenance treatment plan includes medication and psychotherapy for preventing relapse and reducing symptom severity.