Recently, an increased attention is paid to the bipolar disorder, which represents a serious affective disorder. Simultaneously, more detailed diagnosis is connected with a broader spectrum of treatment possibilities. The author deals in detail with diagnosis and treatment of hypomania and bipolar depression. Nowadays, it is not sufficient to differentiate between unipolar and bipolar disorders, but it is necessary to differentiate between bipolar I and bipolar II, because there are differences in clinic, dynamic and treatment reactivity. None of mood stabilizers has the same efficacy in mania and depression. For that reason, the mood stabilisation is achieved using combinations of stabilizers with antidepressants and antipsychotics or mutual combination of stabilizers. The integral part of complex treatment of bipolar disorder is the psychoeducation, aimed at the adherence to the treatment and relaps prevention (identification of early signs of relapses and stressors, significance of regular activities and sleep), or broader psychosocial interventions.

        Key words: bipolar spectrum, bipolar disorder I, bipolar disorder II, hypomania, bipolar depression, treatment, switches.