Wayne Macfadden, a psychiatrist and clinical researcher, discusses bipolar disorder, which includes bipolar I and bipolar II. Bipolar I is marked by severe manic episodes that may lead to hospitalization, while bipolar II involves less severe symptoms that allow for day-to-day functioning, often including major depression. Patients with bipolar II might remain untreated for long periods due to the less obvious nature of their symptoms.

1. By Wayne Macfadden

2. About the author:
Psychiatrist and clinical researcher Wayne
Macfadden has published several recent
peer-reviewed articles relating to bipolar
disorder in journals such as the Journal of
Medical Economics and Clinical
Therapeutics.

3. Bipolar disorder is an illness related to the
peaks and troughs of human experience. It
can be categorized into Bipolar I and Bipolar
II. Both may share similar symptoms, yet
differ significantly.

4. The main characterization of Bipolar I (Raging
bipolar) is at least one severe manic episode
that lasts at least one week or requires
hospitalization. The symptoms during a manic
episode include inflated self-
esteem, distractibility, increased goal-directed
behavior, and exaggerated risk-taking. Manic
thinking can quickly jump from quick and clear
creativity to psychosis. If the symptoms of
mania do develop into psychosis, persons
suffering from Bipolar I may require
hospitalization.

5. The predominant difference between Bipolar I
and Bipolar II (Swinging bipolar) is that a
person with swinging bipolar can usually still
function day-to-day. People with Bipolar II may
also suffer from hypomanic episodes similar to
people with Bipolar I, but the episodes are less
severe and noticeable to others. Swinging
bipolar is usually characterized by major
depression. Because swinging bipolar is less
visible than raging bipolar, patients may suffer
with their illness untreated for long periods.