Bipolar 2 disorder involves a major depressive episode that’s has a duration of two weeks or more and at least one hypomanic episode. The hypomania is a period that’s less severe than a full-blown manic episode and needs to last only four days consecutively rather than a week. It involves mood elevation that increases energy, has pressured speech and sometimes agitation. The mania is not as intense as Bipolar 1 but the depressive episodes are severe and may last longer. People with bipolar 2 typically don’t experience manic episodes intense enough to require hospitalization. Hypomanic symptoms do not lead to the major problems in daily functioning that manic symptoms commonly cause (no hospitalization or severe impairment).
Bipolar Disorder (1 and 2) and overall Health
- Bipolar DO results in 9.2 years reduction in life expectancy.
- Bipolar DO carries a high risk of suicide with some studies showing 30% of those with Bipolar DO will attempt suicide at one point in their lives
- The suicide rate is twenty times greater than the general population.
- Some studies show 15-20% of those with bipolar disorder will commit suicide (1 in 4 suicides may be linked to an individual with Bipolar DO).
- Many report co-occurring health conditions, which are commonly high cholesterol, migraine, high blood pressure and asthma.
- Unfortunately, bipolar disorder is left untreated in half of the diagnosed individuals in any given year.
- On average, patients will have waited nearly 10 years from their first bipolar mood episode to the time they receive a mood-stabilizing treatment specifically for bipolar disorder.