As such, and because those with BP-II spend more time with depressive symptoms that do not quite qualify as a major depressive episode, the best chance for recovery is to have therapeutic interventions that focus on the residual depressive symptoms and to aim for improvement in psychosocial and cognitive functioning. Even with treatment, a certain amount of responsibility is placed in the patients hands; they have to be able to assume responsibility for their illness by accepting their diagnosis, taking the required medication, and seeking help when needed to do well in the future.Treatment often lasts after remission is achieved, and the treatment that worked is continued during the continuation phase (lasting anywhere from 6–12 months) and maintenance can last 1–2 years or, in some cases, indefinitely. One of the treatments of choice is Lithium, which has been shown to be very beneficial in reducing the frequency and severity of depressive episodes. Lithium prevents mood relapse and works especially well in BP-II patients who experience rapid-cycling. Almost all BP-II patients who take lithium have a decrease in the amount of time they spend ill and a decrease in mood episodes.Along with medication, other forms of therapy have been shown to be beneficial for BP-II patients. A treatment called a "well-being plan" serves several purposes: it informs the patients, protects them from future episodes, teaches them to add value to their life, and works toward building a strong sense of self to fend off depression and reduce the desire to succumb to the seductive hypomanic highs.
ICD-11
According to the ICD-11, a BP-II patient will have experienced episodic experiences of one or more hypomaniac episodes and one or more major depressive episodes, and no history of a manic episode or mixed episode. These symptoms cannot be explained by other diagnoses such as

Cyclothymia
ADHD
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Schizophrenia and other primary psychotic disorders
Substance-Use Disorder
Personality Disorders
Other Mental illness
Physical issues such as a brain tumorThe specifiers are the same as the DSM-5 with the exception of catatonic features and if symptoms have occurred with or without psychosis about 6 weeks after childbirth

Differential diagnoses
The signs and symptoms of BP-II may overlap significantly with those of other conditions. Thus, a comprehensive history, medication review, and laboratory work are key to diagnosing BP-II and differentiating it from other conditions. The differential diagnosis of BP-II is as follows: unipolar major depression, borderline personality disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. : 1653–7  In clinical practice, the difficulty of diagnosing BP-II depends on the accurate detection of hypomania, which is frequently dismissed by patients. Patients can present with increased productivity and energy with the absence of signs of instability or disturbance. As such, there is a risk that BP-II is misdiagnosed as generalized anxiety disorder or unipolar major depression. An accurate evaluation of differential diagnoses are crucial, as they guide treatment and prognostic implications.Major differences between BP-I and BP-II have been identified in their clinical features, comorbidity rates and family histories.