[Tucson]

What is the difference between mono polar depression and bipolar depression? I remember reading somewhere that the two are different both in the presentation of some symptoms and the treatment of both disorders.

[Hottiedepressed]

I think they're probably the same since depression is depression. Unless the individual experiences some symptoms of dysphoric mania while being depressed. That's just my opinion.

[StayinAlive]

Originally Posted by Hottiedepressed

I think they're probably the same since depression is depression. Unless the individual experiences some symptoms of dysphoric mania while being depressed. That's just my opinion.

I think this is correct, that the depression part would be the same.

[BipolaRNurse]

From what I've read, the thing that differentiates us BPs from those with MDD is mania/hypomania. Our depressions also tend to be atypical, that is, we tend to eat and sleep a lot and be more irritable and anxious than people with "normal" depression.

[cool09]

Mono polar depression is Unipolar Depression (I believe you're referring to) which means mood disorder is mainly on one end of the spectrum (depressed) vs Bi-polar which means both ends of the spectrum (euphoric/manic and depressed).

[Eliza Jane]

I stay in touch with my former psychiatrist in another city. When I was eventually diagnosed with BPII, her response was, "yes, your depressions were more like depressions in bipolar." I read that as saying that the depressions in bp are qualitatively different from those in MDD. A therapist friend of mine said that she suspected that I was bp because my depressions were so deep.

Idk if any of that means anything other than the random thoughts of two mental health professionals. But I thought I'd throw it out there.

[Velouria]

I think this is a very interesting question, being diagnosed with MDD but thinking I may be bipolar. I think a lot of my depressions have been dysphoric.

Does anyone think it may also have to do with volatility? I.e. how quickly one can slip into a depressive episode?

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by Velouria

I think this is a very interesting question, being diagnosed with MDD but thinking I may be bipolar. I think a lot of my depressions have been dysphoric.

Does anyone think it may also have to do with volatility? I.e. how quickly one can slip into a depressive episode?

I can go to bed at 10pm and wake up at 3 am in such a dark deep horrible depression .. Like the flip of a light switch .. Mine has no warning its coming not a slow decline its just a "bam" .... Sucks, a lot .

[Tucson]

MDD can be treated by ADs. BP is best treated by mood stabilizers and APs to avoid mania. Also I think BP depression can in some cases actually be resistant to the normal approach of treatment with ADs (refractory depression) such as in my case. So I think it is useful to distinguish between the two.

Comments?

[lilypup]

I agree with the above...the depression does not have the manic component.

[StayinAlive]

Originally Posted by Tucson

MDD can be treated by ADs. BP is best treated by mood stabilizers and APs to avoid mania. Also I think BP depression can in some cases actually be resistant to the normal approach of treatment with ADs (refractory depression) such as in my case. So I think it is useful to distinguish between the two.

Comments?

This is interesting. My depression has been mostly under control for years with ADs and mood stabilizers. Until recently, when nothing seems to work.

Thanks for bringing this up.

[Velouria]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

I can go to bed at 10pm and wake up at 3 am in such a dark deep horrible depression .. Like the flip of a light switch .. Mine has no warning its coming not a slow decline its just a "bam" .... Sucks, a lot .

Mine can be like that too, with no slow decline. I'll be level and then something happens and I snap. Yes, like a light switch. That's how my moods can be too. For instance, to my boyfriend's frequent dismay, I can go from playful to angry in a moment, like I have this imaginary limit even I don't know about and can't control.

[tradika]

Short list for differentiating bipolar depression: Shorter duration of episodes, more lifetime episodes, psychosis, atypical features(having the munchies and sleeping a lot), younger age of onset, hypomania being induced by antidepressants, and I think some studies found treatment resistance to antidepressants.

[Tucson]

Originally Posted by tradika

Short list for differentiating bipolar depression: Shorter duration of episodes, more lifetime episodes, psychosis, atypical features(having the munchies and sleeping a lot), younger age of onset, hypomania being induced by antidepressants, and I think some studies found treatment resistance to antidepressants.

Very interesting indeed!

Nassir Ghaemi is a big name in BP research. He is a professor at Harvard. He believes the BP depression can present differently than unipolar depression. One element I remember is that depression in BP tends to be the atypical variety of depression.

[Sinking Feeling]

I don't believe there is a one size fits all to depression, it varies in MDD and BP. It can be treatment resistance in both. AD's can some times work with BP. I don't think there is any real borders or neat definitions. Even duration can vary in both. And it also sucks in both too.

[Curiosity77]

MDD and bipolar depression are sometimes identical, but sometimes bipolar depression can be more atypical. One of the psychiatrists I work with has a theory that MDD is a problem with serotonin, while bipolar depression is a lack of dopamine. He thinks we burn through our dopamine with mania and sort of use it up, then crash into depression when this feel good neurotransmitter is gone. It's his theory, and I have no idea if he's right, because I've not read or heard about this elsewhere. But it is an interesting idea.

[tradika]

One size does not fit all. That is correct. However, these these are studies. These symptoms are what they found statistically to be more present in the bipolar groups than unipolar groups. That is not to say that people with unipolar do not develop atypical depression or psychosis. They do quite frequently. However, with something like psychotic depression I would bet that they probably have a bipolar or schizophrenic relative.

[tradika]

Originally Posted by Curiosity77

MDD and bipolar depression are sometimes identical, but sometimes bipolar depression can be more atypical. One of the psychiatrists I work with has a theory that MDD is a problem with serotonin, while bipolar depression is a lack of dopamine. He thinks we burn through our dopamine with mania and sort of use it up, then crash into depression when this feel good neurotransmitter is gone. It's his theory, and I have no idea if he's right, because I've not read or heard about this elsewhere. But it is an interesting idea.

In response to this, I think your psychiatrist has a very simplistic view of something that is not so simple. The brain is our most complex organ, and I think there are multiple issues going wrong to contribute to what they diagnose as bipolar disorder.

[TheatreKid]

My mom has unipolar depression while I have bipolar and she has observed that my depression seems to be more reactive to outside events (i.e. I can still laugh) while she cannot. This would fit in with the trend that bipolar depression has atypical features.

She's never seen me at my worst though. I can't laugh then.

[Sinking Feeling]

I do have to admit that for the most part my depression is also atypical too. I can have moments of joy during mine. Never really thought about that.