Bipolar II Disorder

Unlike its cousin, bipolar I disorder, which has been
extensively studied and depicted in popular literature and on screen,
bipolar II disorder is poorly understood, underdiagnosed, and insufficiently
treated. Bipolar II Disorder: Recognition, Understanding, and
Treatment is the only text on the market that examines every aspect
of the disorder in an up-to-date, rigorous, and clinically oriented manner.
The editors, experts on the diagnosis and treatment of this neglected
illness, have gathered a group of contributors who together advance the
reader's knowledge of the disease in a systematic, accessible way,
identifying and addressing the challenges of diagnosis and treatment and
exploring current thinking on the biological determinants of the disorder.
Acknowledging potential pitfalls of differential diagnosis, the book
examines psychiatric comorbidities that most typically co-occur with bipolar
II, such as anxiety disorders, impulse-control disorders, and borderline
personality disorder. Next, the book focuses on the growing body of evidence
that suggests that the underlying biology of bipolar II is distinct from
that of other mood disorders and discusses the increasingly important role
that neuroimaging plays in the diagnosis and understanding of bipolar II
disorder as research progresses. Finally, the text explores how to manage
bipolar II disorder, providing an up-to-date review of medication options
and psychosocial treatments.

The book's strengths are many and compelling:


* Individual chapters are written by experts in the fields of
phenomenology, genetics, neuroimaging, psychopharmacology, psychotherapy,
child psychiatry, and reproductive mental health who review what is
currently known about bipolar II disorder and its management.
* A
special chapter on suicide describes a framework for understanding risk and
a clinical model for conducting suicide risk assessment specific to
individuals with bipolar II disorder. The chapter underscores factors
associated with increased risk in bipolar II disorder and identifies
strategies to mitigate that risk.
* Written for a professional audience,
the book may also be of interest to patients who want to learn more about
their own diagnosis and to those who wish to support them.
* Fascinating
case vignettes and concise key points are provided throughout the text,
helping readers to understand and contextualize the most important
information in each chapter for easy reference and review.
* Although
advances have been made in understanding bipolar II disorder since the
diagnosis was first codified in 1994, many gaps remain in the evidence base,
particularly related to optimal treatments and neurobiology, and the book
examines future directions for inquiry.

For years, clinicians had
little guidance for diagnosing and treating bipolar II disorder, relying on
treatment options for bipolar I disorder, which were inadequate and of
limited efficacy. Bipolar II Disorder: Recognition, Understanding, and
Treatment responds to these frustrations with evidence-based,
substantive, and up-to-the-minute information, demystifying the disorder and
equipping the reader to provide the highest standard of care.