Symptomatic Difference Between Depression And Bipolar Disorder
Any kind of depression can be caused by multiple factors. A diagnosis should be made at the earliest by a qualified experienced professional. Mental disorders are taboo in many societies and countries, and one should not be ashamed of them. Everyone should know that depression is a mood disorder and can happen to anyone, like a common cold, cough, or flu.
Some of the signs and symptoms of depression and bipolar disorder to better differentiate between the two are:
At Risk Population And Diagnosis
Bipolar often develops in the late teens or early adult years, and half of all cases begin before the age of 25. Some people experience symptoms in childhood, while others donât experience them until late in life.
With one in 10 adults reporting depression, depression is the most common mental illness in the U.S. The average onset of depression is at 32 years old, and people of color are more likely to struggle with the illness than Caucasians. Women are 70% more likely to be diagnosed with depression than men are, but this may be related to how how men seek and receive help. Additionally, 3.3% of 13- to 18-year-olds have experienced depression.
Bipolar disorder and depression are diagnosed the same way: by conducting a physical exam, patient interviews, and lab tests. For bipolar disorder, the symptoms must be a radical change from the patientsâ usual mood or behavior. For depression, doctors must rule out medical conditions such as a virus or thyroid disease. MRI imaging can be used to find differences in the brain of those with bipolar disorder.
Due to bipolar disorderâs cyclical nature, it is typically harder to diagnose bipolar than it is to diagnose depression. For example, those with bipolar may feel the urge to seek help and take medication during depression, but not during mania. This can easily lead those with bipolar to assume they are depressed, but not necessarily manic.
Difference Between Depression And Bipolar Depression
To understand the difference between depression and bipolar depression, you need only look back to what bipolar depression used to be called manic depression.
It was known as manic depression due to the manic episodes people living with this mental illness often experienced. However, the name of the illness was changed to bipolar disorder in effort to eliminate the confusion around the two different conditions.
Sometimes people are confused about the differences between clinical depression and manic depression. And its no wonder they both have the word depression in their names. Thats one of the reasons manic depressions clinical name changed to bipolar disorder many years ago, to more clearly distinguish it from regular depression.
The two are constantly being confused with one another. Which is why manic depression is now classified as bipolar disorder. While both share a form of clinical depression, bipolar or manic depression goes further than that by introducing mania into the picture.
If you live with depression, you may feel a sense of worthlessness, lethargic, and uninterested in activities you once enjoyed. These symptoms can also be found in those suffering from bipolar disorder. The added symptoms of bipolar extend to feeling of being overly happy with drastic dips into sadness. In addition, you may also feel irritable, aggressive, and willing to take risks you might not always be inclined to take.
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Information For Family Carers And Friends
How can I get support?
You can speak to your GP. You should be given your own assessment through NHS mental health services to work out what effect your caring role is having on your health. And what support you need. Such as practical support and emergency support.
These are some other options for you:
- Join a carers service
- Join a carers support group
- Ask your local authority for a carers assessment
- Read about the condition
- Apply for welfare benefits for carers
Rethink Mental Illness run carers support groups in some areas. You can also search for groups on the Carers Trust website:
- Rethink Mental Illness: www.rethink.org/about-us/our-support-groups
- Carers Trust: www.carers.org/search/network-partners
How can I support the person I care for?
You might find it easier to support someone with bipolar disorder if you understand their symptoms, treatment and self-management skills.
You should be aware of what you can do if you are worried about their mental state. It can be helpful to know contact information for their mental health team or GP.
You could find out from your relative if they have a crisis plan. You could help your relative to make a crisis plan if they dont have one.
As a carer you should be involved in decisions about care planning. But you dont have a legal right to this. The medical team should encourage the person that you care for to allow information to be shared with you.
You can find out more information about:
The Difference Between Depression And Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder affects more than 5.7 adults in the United States alone. Its a complicated disorder that can be confusing to many, including the people who suffer from it and those who think they may suffer from it. Bipolar disorder is easily confused with depression as they share common symptoms and both include depressive episodes. The biggest difference between bipolar disorder and depression is that bipolar disorder includes mania and depression does not.
In order to best understand the difference between the two disorders, its helpful to recognize the symptoms of each first.
Depression: According to the American Psychiatric Association, depression causes feelings of sadness, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed and negatively affects the way you think, feel and act.
Bipolar Disorder: According to the National Institution of Mental Health, bipolar disorder is defined by manic episodes that last at least seven days or by manic symptoms that are severe enough that the individual needs immediate hospital care.
If you have depression or bipolar disorder and are interested in participating, please call us at 602-1440 for more information.
Suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255
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For The Psychotic Symptoms
This is also another symptom of bipolar affective disorder.
Its symptoms can include:
- Hearing, seeing, or feeling things that are not real and don’t exist is a hallucination.
- Believing things that aren’t true and people may often find your beliefs odd.
In addition, Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder can reveal your mood.
For instance, in a situation you have a manic episode, you may believe that you have some kind of special powers whereas you don’t.
What Is Unipolar Depression
To put it simply, unipolar depression is another name for major depressive disorder , also known as clinical depression.
This mood disorder is characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness or a lack of interest in things that you used to enjoy.
To consider a diagnosis of MDD, a health professional will assess whether you meet the criteria set in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition . This reference handbook helps mental health professionals make accurate diagnoses.
According to the DSM-5, to receive an MDD diagnosis, you must experience:
- symptoms for 2 weeks or longer
- episodes of depression or significant and persistent loss of interest, or both
- a change in the way you previously functioned
Diagnostic criteria also include experiencing 5 or more of the following symptoms in a 2-week period:
- feeling sad or irritable
- Call or text the Postpartum Support International Help Line at 800-944-4773
- The Trevor Project. LGBTQIA+ and under 25 years old? Call 866-488-7386, text START to 678678, or chat online 24-7.
- Veterans Crisis Line. Call 800-273-8255, text 838255, or chat online 24-7.
- Befrienders Worldwide. This international crisis helpline network can help you find a local helpline.
- DeafLEAD Crisis Line. Call 321-800-DEAF or text HAND at 839863.
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What Do Bipolar Disorder And Depression Have In Common
The obvious one is that bipolar disorder and depression both involve depressive episodes, but there’s more:
- Bipolar disorder and depression can both be treated.
- Left untreated, the risk of poor outcomes, including suicide, are high in both depression and bipolar disorder.
- Antidepressants are sometimes employed in the treatment of both depression and bipolar disorder . However, they can induce manic episodes as well, and should therefore be used with caution.
- Bipolar disorder and depression share some risk factors having a family history of the condition and being low-income.
Difference Between Major Depression And Bipolar Disorder
The main difference between the two is that depression is unipolar, meaning that there is no up period, but bipolar disorder includes symptoms of mania. To differentiate between the two disorders, it helps to understand the symptoms of each one. What is the difference between major depression and bipolar disorder quizlet? What is the difference between depression and bipolar disorder? Depression is
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In This Video Learn How Doctors Distinguish Between Major Depressive Disorder And Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder might be known for causing two extremes of the mood spectrummania and depressionyet recognizing symptoms of bipolar disorder can still be challenging. Manic episodes often occur infrequently, and some types of manic symptoms may fly under the radar to friends and family. In fact, to an outsider, someones bipolar disorder may seem indistinguishable from depression.
One possible reason for the confusion? Americans are more familiar with what depression looks like. Approximately 6.7 percent of adults in the United States have had at least one major depressive episode, while only 2.8 percent of U.S. adults have had bipolar disorder in the past year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health .
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that involves both having had an experience of a manic episode, as well as experiencing depressive episodes, says Susan Samuels, MD, psychiatrist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine. Learn more about the types of bipolar disorder here.
How Bipolar Differs from Depression
Since bipolar disorder and depression both include depressive symptoms, the difference really boils down to mania. It only takes one manic episode to classify someone as having bipolar disorder instead of depression.
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Extreme distractibility
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Not needing sleep
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Feeling invincible and on top of the world
Why Knowing the Difference Really Matters
Treatments For Depression And Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar depression is usually more difficult to control than clinical depression, and some treatments that work for the clinically depressed can actually make bipolar depression worse. Its very important that a correct diagnosis is made do not try to treat any type of depression on your own without making sure that its not bipolar disorder. For example, light therapy and some supplements used with some success in patients with depression can cause worsening of symptoms in those with bipolar disorder. Your doctor will work with you to determine a course of treatment that addresses both depressive and manic symptoms if you have bipolar disorder. With depression, only the depression needs to be treated, unless there is some other issue such as anxiety or substance abuse.
If you or your teen are suffering from depression, its important to know what type it is and whether its associated with bipolar disorder. Your physician is a good place to start, and he or she will refer you for proper mental health treatment if its warranted. If you have concerns that your teenager is struggling with psychosis, suicidal ideation, or any other severe mental health condition, dont be afraid to call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for prompt evaluation and treatment.
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Rates Of Occurrence: Bipolar Vs Depression
Bipolar disorder statistics indicate that approximately 2.8 percent of adults are diagnosed with this condition. Bipolar disorder appears to be equally common in males and females. One study estimated the level of impairment from bipolar disorder ranging from moderate to severe, with the majority of people experiencing serious impairment.
Depression statistics indicate that major depressive disorder is more common than bipolar disorder. It is estimated that approximately 7.1 percent of adults experience a major depressive episode. Unlike bipolar disorder, major depression is more common among females than males, with a prevalence of 8.7 percent and 5.3 percent respectively. The rate of severe impairment is far lower for depression, though a majority of people with this disorder do experience severe impairment.
What Are These Up Periods Of Bipolar Disorder
These up periods are referred to as mania. To best understand mania, its important to understand what bipolar means. Bipolar refers to the opposite ends, or poles, of the emotional spectrum: the highs and the lows .
Teens or kids with bipolar disorder will experience both. You might notice severely depressed periods of hours, days, weeks, or months, followed by a manic period that can also range from days to months.
Its also possible for your teen to have a type of bipolar disorder in which they experience manic and depressive symptoms at the same time. They might feel sad and hopeless but also be very agitated and restless.
Mania is often misunderstood. While it is referred to as the up period, your child may not seem up. They may display signs of irritation, aggravation, or even anger during a manic period. It does not always exhibit itself with excitable or euphoric feelings. Sometimes, manic periods are marked by risky or wild behavior, but not always. Sometimes it is unexplainable bursts of frustration or fury. Sleeplessness and racing thoughts, which can lead to forgetfulness or scatterbrained behavior, is also common during manic periods.
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Reaping The Benefits Of Finding Mental Health Treatment In Orange County California
True Life Center is committed to helping individuals find and express their authentic selves. When suffering is deep and enduring, understanding the path forward brings comfort and hope. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive map for long-term recovery and optimal health. We listen carefully to you and your loved ones to understand and co-collaborate in the creation of your True Life Recovery Plan. Finding mental health treatment may seem challenging right now, but its only a phone call away. Five minutes can give you the key to years of stability and contentment. at to start your journey to healing today.
Bipolar I And Bipolar Ii
There are two types of bipolar disorder. Bipolar I is considered a more severe condition than bipolar II. The ways that the associated depression presents itself can differ between the two conditions. For example, people with bipolar II might struggle with longer periods of depression, but the depression tends to be less severe. Also, while people with bipolar I might be more likely to be hospitalized with psychotic symptoms, those with bipolar II are more likely to struggle with anxiety and substance abuse. Although bipolar I symptoms are often more severe, however, those with bipolar II have a greater incidence of suicide attempts. No matter which type of bipolar disorder you or your teen has, its important to be vigilant for symptoms of suicidal thoughts.
As far as mania goes, those with bipolar II have a less severe form of it. In bipolar II, its actually called hypomania true mania does not occur. For example, while someone with bipolar I might react to manic feelings with severely abnormal behaviors, someone with bipolar II might seem to just have more energy than usual, feel more talkative, and need less sleep. Since these types of behaviors can be within normal limits for some people, there is less of an obvious problem to bystanders.
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What Are The Side Effects Of Bipolar Disorder Medications
Side effects of bipolar disorder medications are common and vary by medication. Its important to talk with your healthcare provider about what you can expect when taking certain medications. Its also important to tell them if youre experiencing side effects.
Never stop taking your medication unless your healthcare provider tells you to do so. Abruptly stopping medication can cause severe side effects and trigger severe episodes.
The most common side effects of bipolar disorder medications include:
- Akathisia feelings of restlessness and agitation with a compelling need to move, rock or pace.
Summary Of Findings Regarding Cognitive Styles During Remission
Some methodological issues must be attended to in the study of cognitive vulnerabilities in bipolar disorder, particularly variability in depression history. In studies that have failed to account for these issues, the evidence for negative cognitive styles among persons with remitted bipolar disorder is quite limited. However, when researchers have focused on just those persons with a history of depression or have used schema activation procedures, findings have suggested that bipolar disorder in remission is characterized by a depressive cognitive style.
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Unipolar And Bipolar Depression: Different Disorders
The prevailing model is that the depressions within unipolar and bipolar disorders are qualitatively different in etiology and phenomenology. This type of duality is exemplified in the DSM diagnostic system, with unipolar and bipolar disorders categorized as separate branches on the mood disorder diagnostic tree. This separate branch includes both mania and bipolar depression on the bipolar âbranch,â rather than depression without mania, depression and mania, and monopolar mania. Drawing on the strong evidence that mania is biologically driven, bipolar depression has been seen as more endogenous than unipolar depression. As a consequence of this dichotomy in the diagnostic nomenclature, research in mood disorders tends to focus on either bipolar disorder as a whole, failing to account for episode polarity in bipolar disorder, or unipolar depression. Few researchers have directly compared unipolar and bipolar depression.