Bipolar I and bipolar II disorder are serious, highly prevalent psychiatric conditions affecting approximately 11 million adult Americans with the prevalence of bipolar I and bipolar II disorder being similar. These are chronic and debilitating conditions with an increased risk of suicide and are reported as some of the most costly mental disorders.
These disorders are characterized by recurrent episodes of mania or hypomania interspersed with episodes of major depression known as bipolar depression.
Bipolar depression is the most common clinical presentation of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar depression is the most common clinical presentation of bipolar disorder. These episodes tend to last longer, are more difficult to treat, recur more often, and are also observed to have worse prognosis than the manic/hypomanic episodes.
Bipolar II disorder is often characterized by a higher frequency of depressive episodes that last longer, with greater severity and lower overall functioning than bipolar I disorder.
There are only a few approved treatment options for bipolar I depression and even fewer approved treatment options for bipolar II depression.