Difference Between Unipolar & Bipolar

Bipolar and unipolar disorders are two major mood disorders that affect millions of people. However, there are a few distinct differences between the two mental illnesses.

Bipolar Disorder

• Bipolar is characterized by two distinct phases of mania and depression. The rapid cycling between moods over a relatively short period of time is a key component of bipolar disorder.

Unipolar Disorder

• Unipolar is a major depressive, mental disorder generally involving the loss of interests or pleasure in daily activities, low mood and very low-self esteem.

Mania

• Bipolar people suffer extreme periods of mania that are expressed by increased excitability, racing or irrational thoughts, insomnia and increased sexual promiscuity. Some patients experience a hypomanic phase, which is not as extreme or debilitating as mania. Unipolar disorder does not include mania.

Depression

• Bipolar and unipolar people experience severe periods depression where they lose the ability to enjoy life. Feelings of guilt, sadness, self-hatred, worthlessness, helplessness and the loss of hope are symptoms found in both disorders.

Bipolar Treatment

• Bipolar disorder is a lifelong illness, and it takes the sustained use of medication and psychological counseling to treat the illness. When properly treated, mood swings become less frequent and are more controllable.

Unipolar Treatment

• Medication, psychotherapy and electroconvulsive therapy are effective tools for treating unipolar disorder. Regardless of treatment, unipolar people tend to experience at least one recurrence of depressive mood during their lives.