Bipolar vs Depression, Understanding the Difference

Bipolar vs Bipolar Disorder Chart

	Bipolar Disorder	Depression
Mood Episodes	Alternating periods of mania/hypomania and depression	Prolonged period of persistent low mood (depression)
Manic/Hypomanic Episodes	Present in bipolar disorder, not in depression	Not present in depression
Duration of Mood Episodes	It can last for weeks to months or longer	Can last for weeks to months or longer
Mood Swings	Rapid shifts between extreme moods	Consistently low mood
Energy Levels	High energy during manic/hypomanic episodes	Low energy and fatigue
Impulsivity	Increased impulsivity during manic episodes	Less impulsivity
Sleep Patterns	Decreased need for sleep during manic episodes	Sleep disturbances, either insomnia or hypersomnia
Suicidal Thoughts	More common during depressive episodes	Common during severe depressive episodes
Treatment Approach	Requires mood stabilizers and management of manic symptoms	Antidepressants and therapies focused on depression

Bipolar vs Depression Statistics

The average age of onset for bipolar disorder is around 25 years old, affecting about 2.8% of adults worldwide. The average time to get an accurate diagnosis is nearly 10 years because of the high rate of misdiagnosis. The condition appears to be slightly more common in women. Those who suffer from bipolar disorder are more likely to struggle with anxiety and substance abuse. Medication non-adherence is a common problem, and relapse rates remain significant, despite the availability of effective treatments like medication and psychotherapy (especially CBT and Interpersonal Therapy). About half of people with severe episodes need to be hospitalized.

About 15% to 20% of people with bipolar disorder will make a suicide attempt at some point in their lives. Direct medical costs and lost productivity contribute significantly to the financial strain on individuals and society caused by bipolar disorder. The best way to manage bipolar disorder and help those suffering from it live better is through early diagnosis, treatment adherence, and support.

---

---

Depression in Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that causes extreme highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression) at different times. During depressive episodes of bipolar disorder, people have symptoms that are similar to those of major depressive disorder, such as feeling sad all the time, losing interest in activities, being tired, having changes in their sleep patterns, and feeling worthless or having suicidal thoughts. Bipolar disorder is characterized by these bouts of depression, called “depressive episodes.

” In the context of bipolar disorder, “depressive episodes” is the only term to describe them. The difference between bipolar disorder and unipolar depression (major depressive disorder) is that bipolar disorder has both manic/hypomanic and depressive episodes. Bipolar disorder needs to be correctly diagnosed and managed during depressive episodes to develop a suitable treatment plan that helps with depression in bipolar disorders.

Bipolar vs Depression Treatment & Diagnosis

Diagnosis

Bipolar Disorder: A thorough psychiatric evaluation, where the health care provider looks at the person’s medical history, symptoms, and mood patterns, is needed to diagnose bipolar disorder. For a person to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, they must have both manic or hypomanic episodes and depressive episodes. Mental health professionals use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to make an accurate diagnosis.

Depression: To diagnose depression (major depressive disorder), you have to look at the person’s emotional and physical symptoms, such as feeling sad all the time, losing interest in things, sleeping and eating differently, and thinking of being worthless or killing yourself. For a DSM-5 diagnosis of depression, the symptoms must have been present for at least two weeks.

Treatment

Bipolar Disorder:

• Mood stabilizers are medicines like lithium, valproate, and lamotrigine that help stop manic and depressive episodes and stop mood swings.
• Antipsychotics: Atypical antipsychotics like aripiprazole and olanzapine can help control manic or mixed episodes.
• Antidepressants (with care): Antidepressants may be used with mood stabilizers to treat depressive symptoms in some cases. But they are often used with care so they don’t cause manic episodes.
• Psychotherapy: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT), and Family-Focused Therapy can help manage the condition and build coping skills.

Depression:

• Antidepressants: SSRIs, SNRIs, and other antidepressants are often given to treat depression.
• Psychotherapy: Therapies like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) help people learn how to deal with problems, change negative thought patterns, and feel better overall.
• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): ECT may be suggested for people with severe depression or depression that doesn’t respond to other treatments.

Bipolar Disorder vs Depression Medication

Bipolar Disorder Medications

Mood Stabilizers: Mood stabilizing medications are the cornerstone of treating bipolar disorder. Lithium is a common mood stabilizer that helps control manic and depressive episodes, making mood swings less frequent and more severe. Other mood stabilizers, like valproate and lamotrigine, may also be given, depending on how each person responds and their symptoms.

Antipsychotics: Bipolar disorder patients with manic or mixed episodes are treated with atypical antipsychotics. They help keep a person’s mood stable and keep symptoms like agitation and irritation in check. Aripiprazole, quetiapine, and olanzapine are commonly prescribed antipsychotics for bipolar disorder.

Antidepressants (with care): Antidepressants can be given along with mood stabilizers to treat depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder. But they have to be used carefully so as not to cause manic episodes, and they are usually used with mood stabilizers.

Medications For Depression

Antidepressants: The primary way to treat depression (major depressive disorder) is with antidepressant drugs. Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are two common types of antidepressants used to treat depression. Other classes of antidepressants, like tricyclic antidepressants and atypical antidepressants, may also be used depending on how each person responds and how well they can handle them.

Atypical antidepressants, like bupropion and mirtazapine, work differently than SSRIs and SNRIs, but they are still effective at treating depression because they target different neurotransmitters.

Tricyclic Antidepressants: Tricyclic antidepressants, like amitriptyline and nortriptyline, are older antidepressants used when other treatments don’t work or don’t work well.

Serotonin Modulators and Stimulators: Vortioxetine and vilazodone are two medications that affect serotonin levels but work differently than SSRIs and SNRIs.

We Level Up Inpatient Bipolar Disorder and Depression Treatment

At We Level Up, we know the unique problems that people with bipolar disorder face, and our team is committed to helping them get better by giving them comprehensive and specialized inpatient treatment. Our inpatient bipolar treatment program gives people with severe mood swings and those who need intensive therapeutic help a safe and structured place to live.

• Personalized Treatment Plans: When a patient comes in, our experienced psychiatric team thoroughly evaluates them to determine the best way to treat them. We make treatment plans for each person unique to their needs, symptoms, and goals because we know that no two people’s paths to recovery are the same.
• Support and care are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at our inpatient facility. Our caring and trained staff are always there to help and care for our patients. This level of care creates a place where patients can heal and get better without being distracted.
• Medication Management: Our board-certified psychiatrists closely monitor medication schedules and adjust doses as needed to get the best control of symptoms. We use medications that have been shown to work, like mood stabilizers and antipsychotics, to stop mood swings and stop them from happening again.
• Therapeutic Interventions: Our inpatient program offers a wide range of therapies that have been shown to work, such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and individual and group counseling. These therapies help people understand their illness, learn how to deal with it, and get stronger to handle their symptoms better.
• Wellness and Life Skills: Our treatment plan includes training in life skills and wellness programs taught by our team of experts from different fields. These are meant to give people the tools and skills to deal with life’s problems, start healthy habits, and improve their overall health.
• Community and Peer Support: Our inpatient setting encourages peer support and helps patients feel like they are part of a group. Patients can connect, relate, and grow together in a supportive environment made possible by group therapy and shared experiences.
• Transition Planning: As a patient’s treatment goes on, we work to make the change from inpatient care to outpatient care as smooth as possible. Our team works closely with patients and their families to make detailed plans for aftercare. This ensures that patients get support and care even after leaving the hospital.

At We Level Up, we aim to give people with bipolar disorder and depression the tools to get back in charge of their lives and reach their fullest potential. Our inpatient bipolar treatment program gives people a caring, safe, and structured place to find hope, heal, and help start a life-changing recovery path.

Popular Bipolar vs Depression FAQs

8 Steps & Tips for Maintaining Your Mental Wellbeing Informative Video