| One of the toughest parts of proper bipolar treatment | | | | This is made up of at least 4 mood episodes in a |
| is actually determining the correct diagnosis. One of the | | | | single year. It is not uncommon for patients with rapid |
| largest reasons for this is the fact that there are | | | | cycling to experience these mood shifts as frequently |
| several types of bipolar disorder. Also the | | | | as weeks or even days. Rapid cycling most |
| characteristics of the episodes are so diverse from | | | | commonly develops over time and can occur even |
| patient to patient that it could take a long time to | | | | after diagnosed with another type of bipolar disorder. |
| determine an actual pattern in which to base a | | | | Cyclothimic Disorder |
| diagnosis on. | | | | This disorder is characterized by extremely mild |
| The different types of bipolar are characterized by the | | | | episodes of both mania and depression. It is possible |
| patterns in the frequency, length, and severity of | | | | for this condition to worsen over time. |
| episodes of depression and/or mania. Determining | | | | Mixed Bipolar Disorder |
| which type of the illness is present is necessary to | | | | Mixed Bipolar is determined by experiences of both |
| accurately prescribe medication for treatment. | | | | mania and depression occurring at the same time. A |
| Types of Bipolar Disorder | | | | patient with this form would have upshifts in mood and |
| Bipolar I | | | | energy with depressive thoughts present, or vice |
| This form of bipolar disorder is the most severe of all | | | | versa. This has a potential to be very dangerous for |
| the types. It is characterized by having at least one | | | | suffers, as being pulled in both directions at once is |
| episode of both mania and depression with each | | | | such a physical and mental strain, moreso than other |
| lasting more than a week with little to no break in | | | | forms of bipolar disorder. |
| symptoms. The most extreme cases of mania are | | | | Uncatagorized Bipolar Disorder |
| found in bipolar I disorder. | | | | Uncatagorized is for bipolar suffers whose mood |
| Bipolar II | | | | shifts fall into no pattern identifiable with other types of |
| Unlike Bipolar I, this type of the illness consists of milder | | | | bipolar. This makes bipolar treatment difficult because |
| episodes of mania, known as hypomania, along with | | | | with most forms you develop a pattern and you tend |
| depression. The mania involved here is so mild that it is | | | | to become aware of whats coming, but with |
| often overlooked as a problem, and could go | | | | uncatagorized you are constantly guessing. |
| unrecognized for quite some time. Long periods of no | | | | Understanding and recognizing the different types of |
| symptoms often occurs in this form of bipolar disorder. | | | | this disorder helps tremendously with bipolar treatment. |
| Rapid Cycling Bipolar | | | | |