Distinguishing Depression
...often lead one to question exactly what it is that makes bipolar depression different from unipolar depression. The answer; people with bipolar depression have a history of manic episodes. Bipolar disorder has two main phases: a depressive phase (sometimes referred to as bipolar depression) and a manic phase while people with unipolar depression have never experienced a manic episode.
The Differences between Unipolar and Bipolar Disorders
Research has shown that unipolar disorder affects women more often than men and appears later in life. Individuals with this type of depression suffer from insomnia, loss of appetite and diminished interest in eating. They also appear to be agitated, restlessness, sad, and hopeless. These individuals feel worthless. Unipolar depression last for a longer period than bipolar depression episodes and are often more responsive to treatment.
Bipolar disorder, on the other hand seems to have no preference in gender. It affects men and woman equally, average age of onset suspected to be 18 years. Individuals with bipolar disorder suffer from hypersomnia and difficulty waking in the morning. These individuals often alternate between binge-eating and appetite loss and crave for carbohydrates. They tend to be inactive and their movements tend to be very slow as if they were asleep. Like unipolar depression bipolar suffers appear to be sad, hopeless and feeling worthless. The only difference in the mood is a guilt factor. Bipolar individuals often feel guilty which adds to the risk of drug abuse and suicide being higher than in unipolar depression.
The Underlying Causes of Unipolar and Bipolar Disorders
Some believe depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Most clinicians believe that depression is caused by a blend of personal, genetic, biological, societal, and environmental factors. Unipolar depression is...
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