How dangerous is bipolar disorder?
People with bipolar disorder can have delusions of invulnerability may lead to dangerous, reckless behavior. Furthermore, according to Mental Health America, untreated bipolar disorder can lead to suicide in up to 15 percent of cases. In some cases, alcohol abuse and other substance abuse problems occur in patients with bipolar disorder and may worsen their condition. Bipolar disorder also significantly impacts the economy, resulting in functional impairment, disability or loss of productivity for those affected. According to the National Association of Mental Illness, bipolar disorder is among the top 10 causes of disability worldwide.

Are there different types of bipolar disorder?
Yes. Bipolar disorder is divided into four categories. Bipolar I disorder is the most common type of bipolar disorder. This diagnosis requires at least one manic or mixed episode, and episodes of major depression have usually occurred, but are not required for diagnosis. Bipolar II disorder is diagnosed when at least one episode of hypomania and one episode of major depression have occurred. For this diagnosis, you must have never had a manic or mixed episode. Cyclothymia is a cycling between hypomania and lows in mood that do not meet the criteria for major depressive episodes. These milder episodes may be less severe or shorter in duration. They are, however, chronic, and they last for at least two years with no lapse in symptoms for more than two months at a time. Nonspecified bipolar disorder is diagnosed if your bipolar disorder has features that do not match those noted above. This may be more common in early onset bipolar disorder.