What Is Bipolar II Disorder?
Bipolar II disorder is a form of mental illness. Similar to bipolar I disorder, individuals diagnosed with bipolar II disorder generally experience mood shifts that cycle over a period of time. Unlike bipolar I disorder, however, those suffering from bipolar II disorder never experience mood elevations that reach full-on mania. People with bipolar II disorder will experience at least one “hypomanic” episode at some point in their lives, but often the real battle is with episodes of major depression.Population at Risk
About 2.5 percent of the population of the United States suffers from some form of bipolar disorder, including bipolar II. That equates to six million people. Bipolar II disorder tends to run in families. Children with a sibling who has bipolar II disorder are four to six times more likely to develop the illness, compared with children who do not have a family history of bipolar disorder. Symptoms start to appear in the teenage years or early 20s. Almost all cases of bipolar II disorder develop before age 50.What Does Bipolar II Disorder Look Like?
Some people with bipolar II cycle back and forth between hypomania and depression, while others experience long periods between episodes. Symptoms of a depressive episode include:- Depressed mood or sadness daily
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Loss of pleasure in activities once found enjoyable
- Pulling away from friends
- Eating problems – loss of appetite or weight loss, or overeating and weight gain
- Trouble getting to sleep, or sleeping too much
- Feeling guilty, worthless, or hopeless
- Low energy
- Loss of self-esteem
- Thoughts of suicide and death
- Abuse of alcohol or substances, which may make the symptoms as well as suicide risk worse
- A noticeable increase in energy, with hyperactivity and a decreased need for sleep
- Rushing from one activity or task to another, possibly without finishing one before going on to another
- Talking in a rapid, pressured, or loud manner
What Can Be Done About Bipolar II Disorder
There are a number of treatments for bipolar disorder. The approach that’s effective for one person may not work for another person, so it’s important to try a number of options. Many people find that a blend of the following approaches helps them manage their symptoms:Psychotherapy
Therapy is critical for managing symptoms of bipolar II disorder. The most effective therapies are cognitive-behavioral therapy, family-focused therapy and interpersonal therapy. Through regular sessions with an experienced therapist, people with bipolar II can better understand their illness, develop essential coping skills, solve day-to-day problems, regulate moods, rebuild their relationships, and manage difficult thoughts and emotions. Therapists may also recommend important self-care measures, such as exercising regularly, eating nutritious foods, and getting enough sleep, as well as alternative bipolar treatments like acupuncture, yoga, and mindfulness meditation.Medications
A number of medications can help with bipolar II disorder, including mood stabilizers and antidepressants. Among the mood stabilizers:- Lithium is considered highly effective in controlling mood swings, particularly the highs. Lithium has been used for more than 60 years in the treatment of bipolar disorder. It can take a while for lithium to work, so it’s better used for long-term treatment than to treat acute hypomanic episodes. In addition, periodic monitoring is required of the lithium level in the blood and other laboratory tests of kidney and thyroid functioning in order to avoid side effects.
- Lamictal, approved by the FDA for maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder in adults, helps delay bouts of depression and hypomania, as well as mixed episodes in people being treated with standard therapy. It is considered to be stronger for the prevention of relapses than for treatment of acute episodes of bipolar depression.
- Depakote, an anti-seizure drug, works to level out moods. It works more rapidly than lithium and can also be used for prevention.
- Other anti-seizure medications sometimes prescribed include Trileptal and Tegretol.
Family Treatment and Support Programs and Services
Family treatment programs that combine support and education about bipolar II disorder can help family members cope and help reduce the likelihood of some symptoms recurring. For individuals suffering from bipolar II disorder who do not have family and social support, community support and outreach service can be invaluable. Here’s what family treatment and support programs and services do:- Help family members cope with symptoms that are present even when medications are taken.
- Help family members stay on top of the individual with bipolar II disorder, reminding him or her to take the medications as the doctor prescribed and helping the individual to learn how to manage any side effects.
- Helping family members recognize that it is crucial that the individual with bipolar II disorder gets adequate sleep each night.
- Informing the family members that encouraging the person with bipolar II disorder to live a healthy lifestyle and stay away from recreational drugs is important in their overall recovery.
