Different Types of BP

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-03-2006
Different Types of BP
4
Wed, 12-27-2006 - 3:40pm

How many different types of BP are there? What are they? Can there be "mild" cases?

P.S. Hope everyone had a nice holiday!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2002
Wed, 12-27-2006 - 4:49pm

I think things could change all the time diagnosis-wise, but last I heard there were three types of bipolar: type I, which has a nearly equal number of manic and depressed episodes; type II which has mostly depressed episodes; and type III which has mostly manic episodes.

I don't know the official word on whether there are mild cases, but if there can be, I believe my husband could have a mild case. His grandmother was probably bipolar, and he sometimes gets a little inexplicably moody. He's not nearly as bad as me, though.

Express!
Beth "Petrouchka"

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2005
Wed, 12-27-2006 - 4:49pm

I'm not 100% sure, but I think just bpI and bpII.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-03-2006
Wed, 12-27-2006 - 4:55pm
Thanks! This really helps...
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2006
Wed, 01-03-2007 - 10:25am

"trouche" answered the types really well....I can answer the mild or severe with a fair amount of certainty based on personal experience. I have bp II and have had since 7 yo and have had my struggles, but I graduated in the top quarter of my class (of 300+), have held a steady job (maybe not in the same location, but have been with my current company for 11 yrs the end of this mo with nothing but good evals at ALL sites), have maintained a marriage for 17 yrs, all without meds. Due to LOTS of problems in my marriage, we went to MC early last yr and I started seeing a tdoc and they both suggested I try meds to ease some of the strain in the marriage....DW says she sees a big difference.

DS, on the other hand, can hardly function without meds....he cycles rapidly, sometimes 2 to 3 times in a day, is extremely defiant and un-manageable when manic and the same when depressed, but breaks into tears when reprimanded or when faced with simple tasks.

So to wrap up, I would say I have a pretty "mild" type and DS is more severe.

tk

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