Bipolar I disorder is a mental health condition characterised by manic episodes that last at least a week, or by manic symptoms that are so severe that immediate medical care is required. People with bipolar I disorder may also experience depressive or hypomanic episodes, and most people also have periods of neutral mood.
Bipolar II disorder is a major psychiatric disorder that involves a pattern of depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes. Hypomanic episodes are less severe than the manic episodes in bipolar I disorder, but still include out-of-character behavior. People with bipolar II often return to their normal functioning between episodes.
Bipolar I and bipolar II are both long-term conditions that are separate diagnoses, not different forms of the same disorder. The main difference between the two is the severity of their symptoms, particularly the nature of their manic or hypomanic episodes:
* Bipolar I
People with bipolar I experience full mania, which is a severe, abnormally elevated mood that can lead to erratic behavior and serious disruptions in life. Manic episodes can include psychosis, such as hallucinations or delusions, and may require hospitalisation. People with bipolar I may or may not experience depressive episodes, but depression is present for about 30% of the time.
* Bipolar II
People with bipolar II experience hypomania, which is a less severe form of mood elevation than mania. Hypomania doesn't involve psychosis. People with bipolar II also experience depressive episodes, which can be longer-lasting and more severe than in bipolar I. Some researchers estimate that people with bipolar II experience depression more than 50% of the time
Rapid cycling bipolar disorder is a pattern of frequent and distinct mood episodes in people with bipolar disorder. It's diagnosed when someone experiences four or more episodes of mania, hypomania, depression, or mixed episodes within a year. These episodes can last for days, weeks, or months, and people may feel stable for a few weeks between them. Rapid cycling can occur at any point in the course of bipolar disorder, and it can come and go over many years depending on how well the illness is treated. For some people, it may be a temporary condition. Rapid cycling can undermine quality of life, making it difficult for people to maintain a schedule or commit to things. This can negatively impact their job performance and make it hard for them to be relied on, both professionally and personally.
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