What Is The Difference Between Unipolar And Bipolar Depression

Depression is a complicated mental health problem that includes a few different conditions, like what’s called major depression or unipolar depression. You can also see depression in other mood disorders, like bipolar I and bipolar II.

It’s a big deal to know the difference between unipolar and bipolar depression. Unipolar depression is mostly about feeling really down. Bipolar disorder, though, has both those low, sad feelings and also periods of feeling really up, called manic episodes. The main thing that sets bipolar depression apart is these manic or hypomanic (less severe manic) episodes. During these times, people often feel super happy, extra excited, and have other highs that you don’t usually see with major depression.

Here, we’ll talk about these two conditions, explain what depression is, and go into detail about how they’re different. We’ll cover common signs and how doctors figure them out based on the official guide, The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Symptoms of Depression: Unipolar and Bipolar

Before we get into how unipolar depression and bipolar disorder are different, let’s just quickly explain what each is. Even though the sad feelings are pretty similar in both, there are some differences we’ll get to later. A major depressive episode means feeling sad or irritable for at least two weeks straight, along with other things like being tired, losing interest in stuff, and feeling guilty or really intense emotions. The most key thing to remember is that bipolar disorder has these mood swings with manic symptoms that you don’t typically see in major depression. If mental health problems run in your family, you might be more likely to get either of these. For example, if bipolar disorder is in your family, you could be at higher risk for both unipolar depression and bipolar disorder.

Unipolar Depression

Unipolar depression, more often called major depressive disorder or major depression, is defined by the official DSM-5 guide. It’s about having one long period of feeling low without those ups and downs. The main sign of unipolar depression is that constant feeling of sadness, plus other things that come with a low mood.

According to The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, unipolar depression can show up as:

Feeling sad
Not caring about activities for a long time
Being easily annoyed
Suddenly losing weight or not wanting to eat
Having trouble focusing
Sleep problems
No energy
Strong feelings of guilt
Thoughts about death or self-harm

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, there’s help. You can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24/7 by texting, calling, or chatting with someone at 988.

Usually, to be diagnosed with unipolar depression, these symptoms need to have been around for two weeks and be a clear change from how the person normally felt before this sad period started.

Bipolar Disorder Depression

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition where a person’s mood goes up and down, from low, sad periods to high, manic ones. The low periods, called bipolar depression, have symptoms like many other types of depression, including unipolar depression. The highs, or manic episodes, are about feeling really happy, having tons of energy, and doing risky or pleasure-seeking things, which are very different from a depressive episode. In some types of bipolar disorder, there are less severe manic episodes called hypomania. There are three different kinds of bipolar disorder, each with its own special rules for diagnosis:

Bipolar I – has manic episodes that last at least seven days and depressive episodes that last at least two weeks.
Bipolar II – has hypomanic episodes that last at least four days and depressive episodes that last at least two weeks.
Cyclothymic disorder – has milder signs of mania and depression that stick around but aren’t severe enough to be considered bipolar II.

Signs of manic episodes include:

Feeling hopeful and super happy
Talking and thinking really fast
High energy levels
Not sleeping well
Taking more chances
Feeling overly important
Being easily annoyed
Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there

Signs of depressive episodes include:

Feeling sad and hopeless
No energy
Not interested in activities
Trouble focusing
Sleep problems
Weight changes
Moving and talking slowly
Thoughts about self-harm

Unipolar Depression vs Bipolar Depression

The biggest difference between bipolar disorder and unipolar depression is that bipolar disorder includes manic episodes. But are the depressive feelings in bipolar disorder similar to those in major depression? Some experts argue about whether depression looks different in the two conditions, maybe because of old ways of diagnosing or other medical issues. Still, the fact that depressive symptoms often feel quite similar in both unipolar and bipolar disorders is something people are still trying to understand.

Studies show that having manic symptoms can change how the depressive parts of bipolar disorder appear compared to unipolar depression. For example, people with bipolar disorder can have mixed episodes—where they feel both sad and manic at the same time—which can make their depression look different from unipolar depression.

There’s also proof that depressive episodes in bipolar disorder are often more about not being able to control emotions well. This can make it harder to deal with stressful things like divorce or losing a job in a healthy way. Also, research suggests that people with unipolar depression tend to feel more anxious than those with bipolar depression.

Other studies have found that the slowing down of thoughts, speech, and movement in depression might be more noticeable in bipolar depressive episodes than in major depression. People with bipolar disorder might also have more psychotic symptoms during depressive episodes, like hallucinations or losing touch with reality. Plus, bipolar depression might cause more frequent sleep problems and mood changes early in the morning. The fact that there are also three types of bipolar disorder makes it even harder to tell these two conditions apart.

Treating Unipolar Depression and Bipolar Depression

Bipolar disorder and unipolar depression often use similar treatments, though there are some key differences. The usual first step for both is a mix of medicine and talk therapy, often cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

CBT is the most common type of talk therapy. It helps people spot and change negative thought patterns that can lead to unhealthy feelings and actions, like those often seen in mood disorders such as bipolar disorder and unipolar depression.

In a review of many studies on how well CBT works for bipolar disorder, researchers found it can help with symptoms, encourage people to stick with their treatment, and make their lives better. The review really pointed out that this therapy works best when combined with medicine, which is a common approach for both unipolar and bipolar depression.

another review of 115 studies found that CBT also helps with major depression symptoms. Researchers said there’s no doubt that CBT is an effective treatment for adult depression.

Medication

Medication for both bipolar disorder and unipolar depression often includes an antidepressant to help with the sad feelings. Common antidepressants for both kinds of depression are:

Meds for bipolar disorder can be more tricky because they often need to treat both the manic and depressive symptoms. Sometimes, a person needs a few different medications to make sure one medicine for one episode doesn’t trigger the other. Common meds for bipolar disorder include:

Mood stabilizers
Antipsychotics
Antidepressant-antipsychotic combinations

Just so you know, the stuff in this article isn’t meant to be medical advice. Always talk to a doctor before you start or stop any medication.

Finding Your Way Through Mental Health Problems with Therapy

Lots of evidence shows that online therapy is a good way to treat mental health conditions like bipolar disorder and unipolar depression. In a big look at many research papers, experts found that online therapy, whether through websites or phone apps, could help people manage their bipolar disorder symptoms. The review specifically mentioned that online therapy could teach people, give them hope, and help them take charge of their treatment.

Bottom Line

While bipolar disorder and unipolar depression share many symptoms, they are different in important ways. One key thing they both have in common, though, is that they can be treated. If you’re having symptoms that sound like major depression, bipolar disorder, or another issue, think about talking to a licensed therapist online. You deserve good, supportive care as you move forward to feeling better mentally.

Unipolar Depression And Bipolar Depression: What Is The Difference?