The comparative clinical phenotype and long term longitudinal episode course of bipolar I and II: a clinical spectrum or distinct disorders?

Comparative study of personality traits in patients with bipolar I and II disorder from the five-factor model perspective

“…6,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Regrettably, none of these studies presented separate data on BD I and BD II patients; rather, subjects included mixed BDI and BD II patients or only those with BD I. As BD II differs from BD I in genetic, [15][16][17] biological, 18 neuropsychological, 19 and clinical [20][21][22] aspects, the personality traits of individuals with BD II and BD I should be assessed separately.…”

Is There Evidence for the Bipolar Spectrum and the Safety of Pharmaceutical Interventions?

“…Recent data identifying genes associated with Bipolar I and Bipolar II suggest that common genes are not identified according to Vieta & Suppes (2008). Judd et al (2003) concur that current genetic evidence suggests that Bipolar I and Bipolar II do not share a Evidenced-based 7 common genetic diathesis. A study by Coryell et al (1995) tracking persons with Bipolar II and a control group over a ten year period found that those with Bipolar II were no more likely to have a manic episode than controls who never exhibited any hypomanic behavior.…”

“…In contrast, studies of those with Bipolar I in the post drug era find that only 2.1% of persons are asymptomatic during a 12.8 year follow-up; 80% of those who recover relapse within 1.7 years; 23% are continuously unemployed and another 35% are erratically employed (Harrow, Goldberg, Grossman, & Meltzer, 1990;Judd et al, 2002). Examining outcomes for those with Bipolar II, Judd et al (2003) concluded that Bipolar II is an even more chronic condition than Bipolar I. Zarate, Tohen, Land, and Cavanagh (2000) have also noted the contrast between earlier and current outcomes: "In the era prior to pharmacotherapy, poor outcome in mania was considered a relatively rare occurrence.…”

“…389)." Moreover, Judd et al (2003) finds that persons with Bipolar I and Bipolar II do not share similar trajectories over time and thus should be considered as separate categories. Thus, the common label for Bipolar I and Bipolar II would appear to be misleading.…”

Phenomenology, socio-demographic factors and outcome upon discharge of manic and mixed episodes in hospitalized adolescents

“…As underlined by Strober et al [53], observational data are sparse in the literature on BD in youths despite their great importance for assessment of prognosis and prospective long-term studies. In prospective studies on adults with BD, longer duration of the intake episode, depressive or mixed polarity of the intake episode and substance use comorbidity have been identified as factors associated with greater morbidity [31,32].…”