Which statement best characterizes bipolar II disorder compared with bipolar I?

Which statement best characterizes bipolar II disorder compared with bipolar I?

• A. Bipolar II requires at least one major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode; no history of manic episode.
• B. Bipolar II is defined by full manic episodes and no depressive episodes.
• C. Bipolar II consists only of depressive episodes.
• D. Bipolar II requires at least one manic and one hypomanic episode.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how bipolar II is defined by the types of episodes present and the absence of full mania. Bipolar II is characterized by a history of a major depressive episode plus at least one hypomanic episode, with no history of a manic episode. Hypomania is a milder, shorter form of mania that doesn’t cause the extreme impairment or psychosis seen in manic episodes, and it must occur alongside depressive episodes for bipolar II to be diagnosed. If a manic episode has ever occurred, that would meet criteria for bipolar I, not bipolar II. So the statement that best fits bipolar II is that it requires a major depressive episode and a hypomanic episode, with no manic history. The other options misstate that there would be no depressive episodes, or that a full manic episode is required, or that only depressive episodes occur, which do not align with the defining pattern of bipolar II.

The key idea is how bipolar II is defined by the types of episodes present and the absence of full mania. Bipolar II is characterized by a history of a major depressive episode plus at least one hypomanic episode, with no history of a manic episode. Hypomania is a milder, shorter form of mania that doesn’t cause the extreme impairment or psychosis seen in manic episodes, and it must occur alongside depressive episodes for bipolar II to be diagnosed. If a manic episode has ever occurred, that would meet criteria for bipolar I, not bipolar II. So the statement that best fits bipolar II is that it requires a major depressive episode and a hypomanic episode, with no manic history. The other options misstate that there would be no depressive episodes, or that a full manic episode is required, or that only depressive episodes occur, which do not align with the defining pattern of bipolar II.