Types of Bipolar Disorder

There are different types of bipolar disorder. These can vary in their symptom patterns, causes, and treatment:

Bipolar I Disorder: Characterized by mania or mixed episode, this is the classic version of the condition. It is also the most severe form of the disorder. The typical mood pattern in this type of bipolar disorder is at least one manic episode or a mixed episode. There may or may not be episodes of depression with this type of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar II Disorder: This type of disorder involves recurring episodes hypomania – a milder form of mania – and extreme depression (hypomania and depression). There are no manic episodes in this type of the illness. To be diagnosed with this type of disorder, you must have experienced at least one episode each of hypomania and depression. If there is a manic episode involved, the diagnosis will change to Bipolar I disorder.
Cycylothymia (Mild Depression and Hypomania): This is the mildest form of bipolar disorder. While there are still mood swings which occur in cycles, the symptoms are not severe enough to qualify as mania or depression. A diagnosis of cyclothymia will be considered only if there are a number of episodes over a period of two years. If you are diagnosed with cyclothymia, you fall within a high-risk category and have higher chances of developing a full-blown bipolar disorder. For this reason, it is important to monitor symptoms and treat the condition at the earliest.