Bipolar disorder is covers a spectrum of changes that can be difficult to diagnose.
Features that need to be identified:
(1) severity of mania (with hypomania showing mild features)
(2) severity of depression
(3) psychosis
(4) family history
(5) cycling frequency
(6) onset (peripartum, other)
2 main types (Types I and II) are recognized but there are many variations.
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Mania
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Depression
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Classification
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>= 1 episode
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usually present
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Type I
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hypomania (may be subtle, should not show psychosis)
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major depression
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Type II
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Additional terms:
(1) cyclothymia: hypomania with minor depression
(2) Type III (pseudo-unipolar): depression with family history of mania
(3) mixed phase: both manic element and depression concurrently
