Question

A psychiatrist is covering the emergency room and a patient comes in who has a previous diagnosis of bipolar II disorder. Based on this diagnosis, which one of the following symptoms would the knowledgeable psychiatrist expect to see in this patient over time?

A. Psychotic features
B. Manic episodes that do not respond to treatment with mood stabilizers
C. Rapid cycling between severe depression and mania
D. Recurrent manic episodes in the absence of depression
E. Recurrence of both depressive and hypomanic episodes

Answer 1

A psychiatrist would expect a patient with bipolar II disorder to experience recurrence of both depressive and hypomanic episodes over time, rather than manic episodes or rapid cycling.

Step-by-step explanation:

A knowledgeable psychiatrist covering the emergency room who encounters a patient with a previous diagnosis of bipolar II disorder would expect to see, over time, E. Recurrence of both depressive and hypomanic episodes. Bipolar II disorder is characterized by a pattern of depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes, which are less severe than full-blown manic episodes typically found in bipolar I disorder. Patients do not usually experience manic episodes that do not respond to treatment with mood stabilizers, nor do they exhibit rapid cycling between severe depression and mania as commonly as in other forms of bipolar disorder. Recognizing these symptoms is crucial as bipolar disorder can significantly impact a person’s cognitive functions and overall mental health.