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Types of Bipolar Disorder

Medically reviewed by Clinical Reviewer (pending) , MD / PhD / LCSW

Reviewed June 26, 2026

⚠ Placeholder reviewer — replace with a real credentialed reviewer before publishing.

This page is for general education and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a qualified professional. If this is an emergency, call 911 or 988.

Bipolar disorder is not a single condition. Clinicians recognize several related types, grouped by the kind and intensity of the mood episodes a person experiences. The main ones are bipolar I (defined by full manic episodes), bipolar II (hypomania plus depression), and cyclothymic disorder (a milder, long-running pattern of ups and downs). Identifying the type matters because it shapes the most effective treatment.

Key facts

  • The recognized types share a common thread: shifts between elevated moods (mania or hypomania) and depression (NIMH).
  • The difference between mania and hypomania — how intense and disruptive the high mood becomes — is central to telling bipolar I from bipolar II (MedlinePlus).
  • All types are real, diagnosable conditions, and all are treatable with ongoing care (NAMI).
  • Only a qualified professional can determine which type fits, often after seeing how symptoms unfold over time.

Bipolar I disorder

Bipolar I is defined by at least one manic episode — a distinct period of unusually high, expansive, or irritable mood and energy that lasts about a week (or requires hospitalization). Depressive episodes are common too, but the manic episode is what defines the type. Learn more on our bipolar I page.

Bipolar II disorder

Bipolar II involves a pattern of hypomania — a less extreme high than full mania — together with episodes of major depression. Because the highs are subtler, people with bipolar II are sometimes misread as having depression alone. See bipolar II for more, or compare them directly on bipolar 1 vs bipolar 2.

Cyclothymic disorder

Cyclothymia is a chronic but milder pattern: repeated periods of hypomanic-like and depressive-like symptoms that don’t fully meet the threshold for a manic or major depressive episode, lasting over a long stretch of time. It can still affect daily life and sometimes develops into bipolar I or II.

Some people have symptoms that don’t fit neatly into the categories above — for example, mood episodes linked to a medical condition or substance, or patterns that fall just short of a full type. Clinicians use additional categories for these so that people can still get accurate care.

Why the type matters

The type guides the plan. The right combination of medication and therapy can differ depending on whether someone experiences full mania or hypomania, so an accurate picture helps care work better.

From our clinical review. People often fixate on the label, but the type is less a verdict than a map. It tells us what to watch for and what tends to help. What matters most is that the pattern is recognized and treated.

Understanding the type is a starting point. If any of this sounds familiar, see bipolar disorder treatment options for what helps and how to take the next step.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main types of bipolar disorder?

The most recognized types are bipolar I disorder (defined by at least one manic episode), bipolar II disorder (a pattern of hypomania and depression without full mania), and cyclothymic disorder, a milder but long-lasting pattern of ups and downs. There are also related categories for symptoms that don't fit neatly into these groups.

Is one type of bipolar disorder worse than another?

Each type is serious and deserves care. Bipolar I involves more intense manic episodes, while bipolar II involves hypomania but can bring long, heavy depressive episodes. Neither is simply mild. Only a qualified professional can identify the type, and all of them are treatable.

Can the type of bipolar disorder change over time?

A diagnosis can be refined as a clinician sees more of how symptoms unfold. For example, someone first thought to have bipolar II may be re-diagnosed with bipolar I if a full manic episode occurs. This is one reason ongoing care matters.

Sources

  1. Bipolar Disorder — National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
  2. Bipolar Disorder — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
  3. Bipolar Disorder — National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Reviewed against the sources above. This page is educational and is not medical advice.