What is atypical bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder : That cannot be classified into any of the mood disorder categories of dsm-v, but which clearly has manic components as necessary for the diagnosis and likely depressive components as well. Psychosis may or may not be present. A full manic or hypomanic episode has not occurred but in the clinicians judgment the condition is a mood disorder of a cyclical nature and therefore it is seen as not having full component of symptoms necessary for the full bipolar diagnosis. Of interest however is that atypical bipolar disorder is actually more common than the more classic bipolar disorder subtypes.

Bipolar: Bipolar I and bipolar II, In the first, manic phases are more severe, and in the second, depressive phases are more severe. There is also cyclothymia which is a low grade version of bipolar disorder in general, where mood swings are not as severe in either direction, manic or depressive. A psychiatrist will look for extreme swings of mood as part of formulating a diagnosis as opposed to testing.

Could be: Sometimes individuals present with different symptoms or patterns to the disorder that may result in professionals referring to the presentation as "atypical" for example while all individuals with Bipolar Disorder have a cycle, "rapid cycling" is an atypical presentation of the disorder.