DepressionIndiaOnline Forums

Pakistani_princel · New Member Joined: 10 Mar 2005 Posts: 1

My p-doc diagnosed me with bipolar II (bipolar lite?). And while I trust him and he seems competent, he's not the most talkative. And I have lots and lots and lots of questions.

So does anybody know the difference between cyclothymia and bipolar II? They seem virtually indestinguishable to me. Is one more destructive than the other? Can a person have one disorder than have it turn into the other disorder later in life?

Waiting with baited breath...(whatever that means)

worship

LALUprasad_YADAV · Starting Member Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 10

There are three major forms of the disorder - bipolar I, bipolar II and cyclothymia. Bipolar I covers the most extreme range of mood swings from severe depression to mania or mixed mania. Bipolar II covers from severe depression to hypomania (a tighter band of the mood swings because the "highs" are not as high as the bipolar I). Cyclothymia covers from moderate depression to hypomania.

I think it is really important that the doctor be sufficiently communicative so you feel comfortable that you understand the nature of your condition and what the recommended treatment protocol is. The most strongly sponsored treatments combine drugs, individual therapy, family therapy and lifestyle changes. The family therapy is critical so that those who are closest to you understand the underlying nature of the disorder and how it alters your interaction with them and vice versa.