Types Of Bipolar Disorder - Understood By How They Affect Your Life
The different types of Bipolar Disorder are diagnosed based on the severity of disruption in your life.
The three types explored here are: Bipolar Disorder I., Bipolar Disorder II., and Cyclothymia
You will also find the specific symptoms that diagnose mania and depression.
Resources & Activities For Understanding Bipolar Disorder From www.voicesofbipolardisorder.com
Type
Significant Differences
Bipolar Disorder I

Characterized by a full blown manic episode
Bipolar Disorder II

Characterized by depression with a hypomanic episode
Cyclothymia

Characterized by cycling between hypomania and dysthymia
The Most Severe form of Bipolar Disorder because full blown mania and depression often consists of the following features:

  • Psychosis. This means that there is a loss of touch with reality and one's ability. For example: feeling and acting invincible or being affected by experiences (delusions or hallucinations) that feel real, yet no one else experiences.
  • People are at the greatest risk of suicide, self harm, or harm to others during both mania and depression.
  • Significantly affects quality of life through the disruption of one's ability to work or participate in functional relationships. Can be highly destructive to emotional, financial and social responsibilities, roles, and obligations.
  • May involve rapid cycling between mania and depression.
Less Severe form of Bipolar Disorder because during hypomanic and depressive episodes:

  • Predominant feature is a major depressive episode.
  • Person never experiences full blown mania ie. psychosis.
  • Still at risk for suicide and self-harm during depression.
  • Depression affects quality of life, ability to function in relationships and work. However, is less destructive than mania.
  • Experiences difficulty being in touch with self-image.


Least Severe form of Bipolar Disorder because during hypomanic and dysthymic episodes:

  • Predominant features are mild depression and mild mania (hypomania).
  • Experiences significant mood change that may not be pervasive enough to seek help.
  • Less risk for suicide, self-harm, and harm to others.
  • More in touch with reality. However, hypomania and minor depression can significantly affect percetion of self.
  • Quality of life (ex. relationships, ability to work, fulfill responsibilites etc) is disrupted.


Diagnosis
There must be evidence of at least one full blown manic episode for a Bipolar I. diagnosis.

A full blown episode is reflected by the significance of disruption, pervasive affects on roles, relationships and responsibilities in life and the intensity of the episode witnessed by you and others.
Full blown mania and hypomania share the same symptoms.

The differences are pervasiveness, severity, and intensity in one's quality of life.
There must be evidence of a hypomanic episode (minor manic episode) and a major depressive episode (pervasive and intense depression that disrupts a person's ability to function in life).

A hypomanic episode is reflected by the intensity of disruption it causes a
person's life. 
There must be evidence of a hypomanic episode (minor manic episode) and dysthymia (a depressive episode) in a person's life.

Both hypomania and dysthymia have a lower intensity, less pervasiveness, and less disruption in a person's life functioning.

Mania
MOOD
  • Unusually elevated, euphoric, or expansive
  • Unusually irritable
  • Often feels as though every possible human emotion is expressed in the same time period.
  • Lasting for a period of at least a week, can be diagnosed with less.
BEHAVIOR
  • Decreased need for sleep
  • More talkative then usual or pressure to keep talking
  • Increase in goal directed activities, risk taking, or pleasure seeking (ex. spending money, heightened sex drive, taking risks with business etc)
THOUGHT PROCESSES
  • Flight of ideas or thoughts feel like they are racing
  • Easily distracted
  • Obsessed with a goal, risk, or pleasure
  • psychosis: delusions or hallucinations may occur for short periods of time. Longer durations classify as Schizoaffective Disorder.
SENSE OF SELF
  • Inflated self-esteem or sense of grandiosity
  • Invincibility
  • Having special abilities or powers
All forms of depression share the same symptoms.

The only difference is pervasiveness, severity and intensity in one's quality of life.

Note: People with Bipolar I. and II may experience a form of depression that may not be captured by this description.
Depression
MOOD
  • Depressed mood indicated by self or others
  • Major Depressive Episode: most of the day, nearly every day
  • Dysthymia: feel depressed mood for two years but still able to work and participate in relationships in a limited way.
  • Loss of energy or fatigue
BEHAVIOR
  • Diminished interest in pleasurable activities.
  • Diminished interest in activities.
  • Insomnia or hypersomnia
  • Decrease in ability to take care of self and others. (Ex. showering, cooking, cleaning, calling people, etc)
  • Significant weight loss
  • Isolating behaviors
THOUGHT PROCESSES
  • Diminished ability to think or concentrate
  • Recurrent thoughts of death, sucicidal ideation without a plan or intention of acting on it.
SENSE OF SELF
  • Feelings of worthlessness
  • Excessive guilt

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