Difference Between Bipolar and Unipolar

Bipolar and unipolar disorders are two conditions that commonly cause confusion in more than one person due to the similarity of the terms and the relationship between them. However, these two medical disorders differ from each other to a great extent. Difference Between Bipolar and Unipolar

If you have doubts about it or do not know what the difference is between unipolar and bipolar, keep reading, because below we will tell you everything you need to know.

BIPOLAR DISORDER  Difference Between Bipolar and Unipolar

Bipolar disorder is a condition characterized by the fact that affected people experience intense mood swings. Someone with bipolar disorder can be extremely happy at one point and quickly slip into depression. These mood swings happen very quickly, they can occur in a few minutes.

Bipolar disorder is equally common in men and women between the ages of 15 and 25 and it is not known for sure what the cause of it may be, although it is often attributed to negative or very strong changes in life, mismanagement of certain medications, lack of sleep, and use of recreational drugs.

There are three types of bipolar disorders: Type 1 Bipolar Disorder, Type 2 Bipolar Disorder, and Cyclothymia. In the first case, it is typical for people to experience at least one manic episode and long periods of depression. In the second case, you never suffer from complete mania, but you experience high levels of energy and impulsivity that then give way to sadness and later to depression. Finally, Cyclothymia is a mild form of bipolar disorder that is characterized in that people only experience small mood swings that are not dangerous.

The symptoms of bipolar disorder can last minutes, days and even months and include: inattention and concentration, drowsiness, lack of self-control, dangerous behavior, excessive increase in energy, fatigue, loss of appetite, loss of pleasure from certain activities, low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, among others.

UNIPOLAR DISORDER

Unipolar depression is a disorder characterized by the fact that those who suffer from it experience episodes of low energy, low self-esteem, loss of interest, among other symptoms.

It is also known as clinical depression and is a disorder considered severe depression, because the periods of decline are greater than those experienced in cases of normal depression. This type of problem affects the school, family and personal life of patients. Also, it can lead to suicide.

The symptoms of unipolar depression range from changes in sleeping and eating habits, changes in behavior, altered personal relationships, feelings of worthlessness, feelings of guilt or regret, hopelessness, self-hatred … More severe cases They include these same symptoms as well as allusions, isolation, lack of sexual desire, and anxiety. Unlike bipolar disorder, in this case there are no episodes of mania.

It can be caused by a large number of factors, including: social, psychological, genetic, and biological factors.

In DSM-IV, unipolar depression is classified into five subtypes: melancholic depression, atypical depression, catatonic depression, postpartum depression, and seasonal affective disorder.