follows a chronic and/or recurring course and has equal
prevalence rates for both genders (Oakley Browne et al.
2006). Studies have identified that the longitudinal course
of both bipolar I and bipolar II disorders is chronic and
primarily depressive (Judd et al. 2002). It has also been
found that psychosocial disability fluctuates in parallel
with changes in affective symptoms, and that these symptoms
are equal to or more disabling than corresponding
levels of manic or hypomanic symptoms. Thus subsyndromal
depressive symptoms are associated with significant
impairment (Judd et al. 2005).