Diagnosis and management of bipolar II disorder (BD II) remains a significant challenge for clinicians. Early diagnosis of BD II requires a step-wise approach to systematically probe for previous hypomanic episodes and look for other indicators of bipolarity. Emphasis must be laid on ruling out common clinical conditions that could be potential differential diagnoses for BD II. The evidence base from controlled trials for management of various phases of BD II is sparse. The role of antidepressants in treating BD II remains unclear. Hence, the treatment recommendations are formulated based not only on the limited data but also on the extrapolation of data from trials of bipolar I disorder and expert opinion. Further controlled studies are urgently needed to improve treatment of BD II.
Psychotherapy for bipolar II disorder: The role of interpersonal and social rhythm therapy.