Major mood disorders were subclassified according to their hospitalisation for depression (D) and/or mania (M). RESULTS: 30 manic patients (M/Md), 130 bipolar I (MD), 60 bipolar II patients (Dm) and 186 major depressive patients (D) were compared. The manic group differed from the bipolar I group in several variables: better school achievement, milder course of the illness.
Bipolar II disorder is a bipolar spectrum disorder characterized by at least one episode of hypomania and at least one episode of major depression. Diagnosis for bipolar II disorder requires that the individual must never have experienced a full manic episode, unless caused by an antidepressant. Otherwise, one manic episode meets the criteria for bipolar I disorder.