Also called manic depression, bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or the DSM. For a patient to be diagnosed with one of the four types of bipolar disorder, she must display certain symptoms that disrupt her life and have noticeable changes in mood. The diagnosis of bipolar disorder can only be done by a trained professional who can recommend appropriate treatment.
Bipolar Type One
The Mayo Clinic states that to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder I, the patient has had one manic episode or one mixed episode. A manic episode is considered a period of a week or more where the patient has an abnormally elevated or irritable mood. If the patient is hospitalized while having mania symptoms, the duration can be less than a week and still considered a full blown manic episode. In addition to the mood change, the patient must also have at least three symptoms, or four if the mood is irritable and not elevated. Examples of mania symptoms include unusual talkativeness, risky behavior, inflated self-esteem and a decreased need for sleep. If a patient has a mixed episode, he must have symptoms of both a manic and major depressive episode for at least a week to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder I.
Bipolar Type Two
To be diagnosed with bipolar disorder II, the patient must have one major depressive episode and one hypomanic episode, according to the Mayo Clinic. A patient must have five depression symptoms for at least two weeks for a major depressive episode. Examples of depression symptoms include a sad mood, insomnia or an increased need for sleep, feeling worthless, concentration problems and a lack of energy. Hypomania is also an elevated mood, though not as severe as full blown mania. A hypomanic episode is at least three symptoms, or four with an irritable mood that lasts for a minimum of four days; the symptoms are the same as mania, but not as extreme in action.
Cyclothymia
With cyclothymia, the patient has some mild depression and hypomanic symptoms; however, she does not have a full blown episode of mania, depression or mixed mood. The Mayo Clinic states that to be diagnosed with cyclothymia, the patient has these symptoms for at least two years; a child can be diagnosed with cyclothymia after having these symptoms for at least a year.
Bipolar Disorder NOS
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) states that a patient with bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (NOS) has distinct changes in his mood, but his symptoms do not match other bipolar subtype diagnostic criteria. For example, the patient may have a shorter duration of mania or major depression, or has fewer symptoms.
