What characterizes Bipolar 2 disorder?

Bipolar 2 disorder is characterized by the presence of bouts of major depression accompanied by hypomanic episodes. Hypomania is a less severe form of mania where individuals may experience an elevated or irritable mood, increased energy, and other symptoms, but do not have the full-blown manic episodes that are seen in Bipolar 1 disorder.

In Bipolar 2 disorder, the majority of the person’s mood disturbances are in the depressive phase, and while hypomania can be present, they never reach the complete manic episodes that characterize Bipolar 1. Understanding this distinction is crucial because it informs treatment approaches and gives insight into the individual's experience of mood fluctuations.

The other potential options in this context do not align with the clinical definitions used to diagnose Bipolar 2 disorder, establishing why they are not the correct answer.