Bipolar II disorder

Bipolar II disorder is a mood disorder on the bipolar spectrum. People with this disorder have episodes of depression that alternate with hypomania.Benazzi F (2007). "Bipolar II disorder: Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Management". CNS Drugs (Therapy in Practice). 21 (9): 727–40. doi:10.2165/00023210-200721090-00003. PMID 17696573. S2CID 28078494. They never experience psychosis or mania, unlike people with bipolar I disorder.American Psychiatric Association. American Psychiatric Association. DSM-5 Task Force. (2017) [2013]. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5 (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association. p. 139. ISBN 9780890425541. OCLC 1042815534 – via Internet Archive. 

Bipolar II disorder is not a "less severe" form of bipolar disorder simply because it does not cause mania. It often causes severe, chronic depression that may last for years and be more debilitating than mania. Among people with bipolar II, episodes of depression outnumber hypomanic episodes by a ratio of 39:1, according to a 2025 article in World Psychiatry.

Bipolar disorder cannot be cured, but it can be treated. The first-choice treatment for bipolar disorder is a combination of medications and psychotherapy.

 Causes 
Scientists do not know the cause of any type of bipolar disorder. Genetics play a role: more than two-thirds of people with a bipolar disorder have a family member with the same illness. However, many bipolar people have no bipolar family members. This shows that genes are not the only cause of bipolar disorder.

Stress and trauma may also play a role in many cases of bipolar disorder. A traumatic event (like seeing a violent death) can trigger a major depressive episode or a manic episode. This suggests that stress and trauma might trigger bipolar disorder.

In many cases, the cause is unknown.

 Treatment 
Bipolar disorder cannot be cured, but it can be treated. The first-choice treatment for bipolar disorder is a combination of medications and psychotherapy.

 Medications 
Medications that may be prescribed for bipolar disorder include:

 Mood stabilizers, which help control mood swings and can prevent episodes of mania or hypomania. Examples include lithium and valproic acid.

 Antipsychotic medications, to control any symptoms of psychosis. Examples include olanzipine (whose brand name is Zyprexa); risperidone (Risperdal); quetiapine (Seroquel); and aripiprazole (Abilify).
 Antidepressants, to help relieve depression and anxiety. These can trigger mania if they are used without a mood stabilizer or an antipsychotic medication. Examples include fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and escitalopram (Lexapro).

 Psychotherapy 
Psychotherapy is an important treatment for bipolar disorder. Evidence suggests that it helps delay or prevent bipolar episodes when used in combination with medications.

There is strong evidence that certain types of therapy are effective for bipolar disorder. These include:

 Psychoeducation (educating the bipolar person about their disorder and how to cope with it)
 Cognitive-behavioral therapy
 Family-focused therapy
 Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy
 Peer support programs (the bipolar person gets support from other bipolar people)

Related pages
 Bipolar disorder
 Mood disorder
 Depression (mental illness)

References

Category:Bipolar disorder