Bipolar II: Enhance Your Highs, Boost Your Creativity, and Escape the Cycles of Recurrent Depression--The Essential Guide to Recognize and Treat the Mood Swings of This Increasingly Common Disorder (Hardcover)

~ Ronald R. Fieve M.D. (Author) "Until recently, much of the scientific information, research, and treatments concerning manic depression were focused on Bipolar I, a major affective (that is, mood) disorder..." (more)
Key Phrases: hypomanic advantage, bipolar medications, bipolar family, New York, United States, Alcoholics Anonymous (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"God bless Dr. Fieve; he's done it again! Bipolar II gives us just the tool we need in order to address our disorder. For patients like me, family members, even doctors and mental health workers, this is an answer to a prayer."  --Patty Duke, author of Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic Depressive Illness


"In his brilliant new book, Fieve--a founding father in the study of bipolar II, and one of the first to discover its advantages--addresses the practical problem that bedevils all bipolars: How do you channel the hypomania's creative fire without getting burned? If you suspect that you or someone you love is bipolar II, buy this book--now!" ---John D. Gartner, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University Medical School, and author of The Hypomanic Edge


"I am very pleased that Dr. Ronald Fieve has published this book. Dr. Fieve is a pioneer in the recognition and treatment of bipolar disorder, and his previous work, Moodswing, has been an excellent book for patients with this condition to learn about bipolar disorder and its treatments. Bipolar II disorder is an important and common form of the bipolar spectrum. Dr. Fieve's contributions to our understanding and treatment of this disorder are outstanding, and I believe this book will be a must read for patients who have bipolar conditions."   -- David L. Dunner, MD, director, Center for Anxiety and Depression, and professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington

Product Description

The psychiatrist whose pioneering bestseller Moodswing introduced lithium as the treatment for bipolarity now focuses on the milder form of the disease, and the result is another landmark work—one that can help millions with Bipolar II to live better lives

Thirty years ago, Dr. Ronald Fieve pioneered the use of lithium for what was then known as "manic depression." His book Moodswing was a runaway hit, published in seven countries. Since then, Dr. Fieve has focused on patients with mild bipolarity—what is now known as Bipolar II. He has discovered that Bipolar II patients are—almost across the board—driven, successful, high-achieving individuals who, with the right treatment, can actually turn their illness into an asset.

In this first book to concentrate exclusively on milder bipolarity, Dr. Fieve explains how newer drugs with fewer side effects are revolutionizing the treatment of Bipolar II. Some people with mild bipolarity may not require drugs at all—just a specific lifestyle program, which Dr. Fieve spells out in this book. In the past, many patients with the illness have resisted treatment because they did not want to give up the euphoria of the "highs." But left untreated, the condition’s lows can be devastating—sometimes resulting in suicide. Here, Dr. Fieve reveals his remarkably successful treatment program (with results supported by thousands of patient histories) that allows patients to keep the highs while minimizing the lows. And he explains how his program can help turn the illness into a positive and patients into what he calls "bipolar beneficials."

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books; 1 edition (October 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594862249
• ISBN-13: 978-1594862243
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #227,717 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars a dissapointment, December 19, 2006

By	K. Fischer - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this book with great expectations based on the review. His observations are based on his practice with Bipolar II patients, but I don't know how applicable they are to current thoughts of Bipolar II based on my other readings.

He spends the first 30 pages or so telling you all about how he was the first person to coin this phrase, discover this condition, use this medicine, etc. He spends the next 100 pages or so talking about all the high-rollers in New York City that are his patients and how their periods of hypomania are beneficial to them. I guess he counts the mass accumulation of material goods as "beneficial." He finishes the book describing approaches to medical therapy that are really nothing new.

I finished the book with this image of a typical patient with Bipolar II being benefited by the illness, with little short pesky interludes of depression, which if I didn't know any better would lead me to think that it doesn't need to be treated.

I felt more mislead than educated.

25 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars doesn't address bipolar II as I experience it, December 3, 2006

By	Matthew Cornell (Amherst, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found the book to be not very useful. Mainly I saw very little in the discussion of hypomania that sounded familiar - instead of anxiety, irritability, and anger, I found the typical bipolar I symptoms, including euphoria. This may reflect that the field still groups many different illnesses under the term "bipolar II". There's a little bit of ancillary information I may be able to use, but overall I'm disappointed.

15 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Author must have Adult Attention Def. Disorder, January 9, 2007

By	Dallas Drew - See all my reviews

If one is trying to educate, one should use the proper terminology. Bipolar II. (TWO) It's like the author just kept taking examples from cases of patients with Bipolar I or other mood disorders and throwing them into the same basket. BiPolar II is VERY different than other mood disorders and this book did nothing but confuse this recently diagnosed BP II patient. I threw my copy away in the trash.