What do bipolar disorder I and II look like?
Bipolar I and bipolar II disorders are serious mental health conditions that can seriously affect people’s ability to function at school, work and in personal relationships. Mood episodes that occur in people with bipolar disorder include mania, hypomania and depression.
Bipolar I vs. II chart
| Bipolar I Disorder | Bipolar II Disorder |
| Have had at least one identified manic episode | Have had no identified manic episodes |
| May or may not have experienced hypomania | Have had at least one identified hypomanic episode |
| May or may not have experienced an episode of depression | Have had at least one depressive episode |
The symptoms listed in this chart are meant to be informational only. If you are concerned that you or someone you care about may have a mood disorder like bipolar disorder, the best path forward is to get help from a mental health professional who can answer your questions and discuss diagnosis and treatment options.
What is bipolar I disorder?
Bipolar I disorder is a type of mental illness called a mood disorder. It involves disruptions in brain reward systems, impulse regulation and emotion processing. In order to be diagnosed with bipolar I disorder, a person must have had at least one manic episode in their lifetime. People with bipolar I disorder may also experience hypomanic episodes. Most people with bipolar disorder will experience at least one major depressive episode, but a person does not have to experience depression to be diagnosed with bipolar I disorder.
What is bipolar II disorder?
Bipolar II disorder is also a mood disorder. In order to be diagnosed with bipolar II disorder, a person must have had at least one episode of depression and one episode of hypomania in their lifetime. If a person has had at least one identified manic episode, they will be diagnosed with bipolar I, not bipolar II.
While the effects of hypomania tend to be less severe than the effects of mania, bipolar II disorder is still a very serious illness. The unstable moods associated with hypomania and the challenging symptoms of depression can seriously impact one’s ability to function at work, home and/or school. The impact on personal relationships can also be severe.
What is depression?
Depression is a change in one’s mood that includes some or all of the following symptoms:
- Sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness or guilt
- Decrease in enjoyment of or interest in activities
- Changes in weight or appetite
- Changes in sleep or energy level
- Feeling agitated or moving very slowly
- Trouble concentrating
To fit the criteria of a depressive episode within the context of a bipolar disorder, one must experience the symptoms of depression most of the day, most days of the week, for two weeks or more.
What is mania?
Mania, also known as a manic episode, is a lasting change in mood that is significantly different from one’s normal mood. Symptoms of mania include:
- Having increased self-esteem, activity and energy levels
- Being easily distracted
- Having racing thoughts
- Feeling euphoric, agitated or irritable
- Being highly productive
- Engaging in high-risk behaviors
- Needing less sleep
To be diagnosed with bipolar I disorder, one must experience the symptoms of a manic episode most of the day, most days of the week, for at least a week. Mania can have devastating consequences, impacting one’s health, career, finances and personal relationships.
What is hypomania?
Hypomania is a change in one’s mood characterized by increased energy and activity levels. Symptoms of hypomania are similar to those of mania. The difference between mania and hypomania is that the symptoms of hypomania tend to be less severe, psychosis does not occur and hospitalization is usually not necessary. In order to be diagnosed with hypomania, the episode must last most of the day, nearly every day, for at least four days in a row.
What about cyclothymia disorder?
There is another type of bipolar disorder called cyclothymic disorder. This condition involves repeated symptoms of hypomania and depression (mood cycling) that do not reach full threshold criteria for hypomania or depression, for at least a two-year period. In order to receive this diagnosis, bipolar I and II must be ruled out first.
Find treatment for bipolar disorder
While bipolar disorder can be incredibly challenging to live with, you can learn how to manage the condition with effective treatment from experienced mental health professionals. To get started with diagnosis and treatment, please call the team at Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center at 866-622-5914 or send us a message through this form.
Frequently asked questions
Is mania dangerous?
Mania can be dangerous and even life-threatening. Psychosis (delusions, seeing or hearing things that aren’t there) may occur during a severe manic episode, and hospitalization is sometimes necessary to prevent harm to self or others. People having a manic episode often deny that they are sick or acting differently, making it very hard to get them into mental health treatment.
What are the causes of bipolar disorder?
Like many mental health conditions, there is no one single cause of bipolar disorder. Instead, it is caused by a combination of environmental, genetic and physiological factors.
Is bipolar disorder genetic?
Bipolar disorder has a strong genetic component. If your close relative (parent, sibling or child) has bipolar disorder, you will have a higher risk for bipolar disorder than the general population. Yet, most people who have a relative with bipolar disorder will not develop the condition.
What are the health risks associated with bipolar disorder?
Most people with bipolar disorder experience additional mental health conditions in their lifetime, including anxiety or substance use disorders. There is also an increased risk of physical health conditions such as diabetes. Those diagnosed with bipolar disorder tend to have a shorter lifespan. Unfortunately, many people with bipolar disorder will delay getting help, due to both stigma and misdiagnosis.
What are some bipolar disorder statistics?
- In the U.S., approximately one in 50 people will be diagnosed with bipolar I disorder in their lifetime.[1]
- People with bipolar I disorder report having a lower quality of life than those without the condition.[1]
- Around one in three men with bipolar I disorder have sought treatment for the condition. More than half of women with bipolar I disorder have sought treatment.[1]