Difference between Bipolar Disease & Psychosis

There's still a lot we don't know about bipolar disorder (also called manic depression). But we do know that it is different from psychosis. However, anyone diagnosed with a mental illness is often branded "psychotic" by the general public and then they are shunned. In bipolar disorder, a person is high energy and euphoric for weeks or months and then crashes to suicidal depression which also last weeks or months.

Time Frame

• In psychosis, symptoms happen almost all of the time after they first develop. A manic depressive can have months or years between symptoms when their moods are stable.

Chances of Harming Others

• In a manic depressive, the chance of being harmful to others is relatively slight. Chances are higher in the psychotic. Both, however, are a risk to themselves.

Causes

• Causes of psychosis are usually from a brain injury, illness or schizophrenia. Manic depressives may get some psychotic symptoms, but they go away. It is unknown what causes bipolar disorder, but it does run in families.

Grip on Reality

• Many manic depressives can hold down a job and fulfil commitments. Psychotics often cannot take care of themselves, dependents or hold down a job.

Psychosis Symptoms

• These include hearing voices, paranoia, hallucinations and not being able to perceive reality. These can lead to accidents, injury or suicide.