Axis II comorbidity in euthymic bipolar disorder patients: no differences between bipolar I and II subtypes

Bipolar disorder type II (BDII) has been considered since its distinction from bipolar disorder type I (BDI) as a milder form, on the basis of cross-sectional symptoms intensity. Longitudinal data, on the contrary, do suggest that it is at least as severe as BDI, if not even more chronic and impairing. Few studies investigated differences in Axis II comorbidity in bipolar disorder patients according to bipolar subtypes, and none examined patients during prolonged euthymia. The aim of the study was to determine comorbidity rates for personality disorders in euthymic bipolar subjects, comparing bipolar type I and II disorders (BDI and BDII). METHODS: 186 DSM-IV (SCID-I) bipolar disorder subjects were enrolled; all patients were euthymic for at least two months, as confirmed by a HAM-D<8 and a YMRS