What are the different types of bipolar disorder?

I understand that today, they are breaking down bipolar into different types.....one being worse than the other. Can you offer any information on this?

Thanks so much!!!

There are anywhere between 3-5, depending on how you classify them. They are:

BIPOLAR 1
Most people with bipolar I have episodes of both depression and mania. In very rare cases, they experience only mania. Bipolar I is distinguished from bipolar II by the severity and duration of the manic phase, which can last anywhere from a week to several months, and the experience of delusions. Risky behavior is common in manic episodes and patients often require hospitalization for their own safety.

BIPOLAR II
People with bipolar II suffer primarily from episodes of severe depression with occasional episode of "mild" mania, called hypomania. Hypomania differs from mania in that no delusions are experienced. Like mania, hypomania can cause severely impaired functioning. The hypomanic episode often feels so good that bipolar patients often discontinue their medication in quest of a hypomanic episode. This is especially problematic because symptoms that come back after stopping drug treatment are often much harder to get back under control a second time.
While Bipolar II has sometimes been described as a "milder" form of bipolar disorder than Bipolar I, the suicide rate among people suffering form Bipolar II is actually higher than that for those suffering from Bipolar I.

CYCLOTHYMIC DISORDER
People with cyclothymic disorder alternate between hypomania and mild depression. It is not as severe as bipolar I and II, but persists for longer periods with no break in symptoms. Cyclothymic disorder can later become full-blown bipolar disorder in some people, or can continue as a low-grade chronic condition.

RAPID CYCLING
Most people with bipolar disorder have an average of 8 to 10 manic or depressive episodes over a lifetime. Some, however, experience much more severe symptoms called rapid cycling. They can swing (cycle) between "highs" and "lows" many times in one day

MIXED EPISODE
During a Mixed Episode, symptoms of both mania and depression occur at the same time. The excitability and agitation of mania is coupled with depression and irritability. This combination of high energy and agitation along with depression makes the mixed episode the most dangerous for risk of suicide. Source(s): http://mixednuts.net/bipolar.html...

There are two types of bipolar illnesses, bipolar 1 and bipolar 2. Bipolar 1 is more severe than bipolar 2, and is marked by one or more manic swings followed by one or more major depressive episodes. Bipolar 2 generally starts with one or more depressive episodes, followed by a milder (hypomanic) episode.
there is what is called Bipolar I & bipolar II.
One has hypomania.
The other has regular mania.

I don't know which is which but either way MANIA GREAT ...depression that follows sucks. :)
Bipolar disorder is, almost without exception, a life-long condition that must be carefully managed throughout the individual's lifetime. Because there are many manifestations of the illness, it is increasingly being called bipolar spectrum disorder. The spectrum concept refers to subtypes of bipolar disorder that are sub-syndromal (below the symptom threshold) and typically misdiagnosed as depression. Nassir Ghaemi, M.D., has also contributed to the development of a bipolar spectrum questionnaire. The full bipolar spectrum includes all states or phases of the bipolar disorders. The main ones are Bipolar 1, Bipolar II and bipolar disorder not otherwise specified
Wikipedia Bipolar disorder
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/bipolar_dis...
American Journal of Psychiatry
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/cont...
Spectrum project organisation
http://www.spectrum-project.org/...
same as answer 1