[Bipolar II disorder: course and suicidal behavior].
BACKGROUND
Bipolar II disorder seems to be more than a mild form of classic manic-depressive illness. Differences with bipolar I concern genetic, biological, clinical and pharmacological aspects. Nevertheless, studies on suicidal behavior in both groups have resulted in inconsistent results


METHODS
Twenty-two patients fulfilling Research Diagnostic Criteria for the diagnosis of bipolar II disorder and 38 bipolar I were evaluated with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia by two independent interviewers, and compared.


RESULTS
Bipolar II patients had significantly more previous episodes (p = 0.001), including both depressive (p = 0.003) and hypomanic switches (p = 0.006), but had been hospitalized (p = 0.001) and presented psychotic symptoms (p < 0.001) less frequently.


CONCLUSIONS
There were no significant differences between both groups regarding suicidal behavior variables. These results suggest that bipolar II disorder is less severe than bipolar I regarding symptoms intensity, but more severe with respect to episodes frequency, and that suicide attempts rates are not useful to discriminate between both groups.
Vieta
E
E
Subdivisión de Psiquiatría y Psicología Clínica Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, España.
Colom
F
F
Gastó
C
C
Nieto
E
E
Benabarre
A
A
Otero
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*