Question on BP Major Depressive Episodes

My docs think I might have been misdiagnosed as schizoaffective, and I might just be Bipolar I with psychotic features. (Part of the reason I'm here a lot.) I have a question. I know it is possible to be so depressed that you experience hallucinations/delusions/catatonia. What are your guy's experiences with these symptoms. I was once labeled schizophrenic after making an attempt and going IP. I had a moderate/severe catatonic episode in the hospital, but I wasn't hallucinating. The pdoc there, however, thought it was a good idea to argue with me about my claims of not hearing voices. At the time, I couldn't even move my eyes, and I could barely talk. I only had control of one hand and part of one leg. I hated that guy, but, he was determined I had to be some type of schizophrenic. Anyone else experience anything else like this? I've had it happen one other time when I was really depressed.

My mom had symptoms of both bipolar and schizophrenia. I think it can be hard to classify someone, and I don’t believe there really is a clean falling into one bucket or another. I think there are just symptoms and like fingerprints no two people with MI are alike.

I hope someone with your symptoms weighs in

I've been so depressed that I was basically catatonic. Sorry you had such a sucky experience with that doctor.. it's entirely possible that you have bipolar with psychotic features.

The thing is ive inly been ip once for straight psychosis. In fairness though I was extremely depressesd. I was involunatary. They allowed me a stuffed animal I wasnt supposed to have bc I apparently quit yelling at Ed cop guarding my door when I had it. Then, they just in ip they gave me a ton of haldol and stuff to prevent from the tons of side effects I was getting. I wasnt given any antidepressants. I slept through the entire hold, then they sent me home with that script. Ugh, Im rambling. My point is that all my other ips were for depression even if there were some underlying psychosis going on.

I hate to sound like a jerk, but what's the sense of haggling over labels? Either you feel well, or you don't. I've been diagnosed as BP I, but don't live & die by that label. Over the years I've just learned to adjust & somehow treat a ball of symptoms. I am not BP...I'm just a human being who has emotional/mental problems that need tending to sometimes - generally with the help (not judgement) of a doctor.

I do agree with about Emgreen about labels. The meds for both conditions are pretty much the same.

It's NOT about the label, in and of itself. You've missed my point. My point is I want to know what the is going on. If I'm bipolar, fine. If I'm schizophrenic, fine. Why do I want to know the label? For reality testing. If catatonia = schizophrenia. I want to know. Why? Because, I want to know, if I need to expect that, and what to do when it happens. Since I do occasionally have an episode or two, then I want an explanation as why this happening to my body. Why do I want that? Try not being able to move, to the point of not being able to roll your own eyes, and barely able to think. You'll find out. By the way, are schizophrenia and bipolar treated exactly the same way? No, not exactly, actually. There's some antipsychotics you probably wouldn't try to use on a bipolar, at first anyway, and it would be idiotic to give a schizophrenic lithium, depakote, topamax, etc. In fact, it would do more harm than good. Therapy treatment, focuses a little differently sometimes to. Most of the time I'd agree and say labels shmambles, but sometimes they do matter. This time it does.

I wasn't even aware that catatonia was a symptom of schizophrenia. Is it possible you have schizo-affective disorder? I believe this is bipolar wth some symptoms of schizophrenia.

It's possible they admit ignorance. The big difference between the two is that w/ schizoaffective you have psychosis during times without a mood disruption. It's not "some" psychosis. It's basically schizophrenia diagnosis + mood disorder.With Bipolar, you can have psychosis but only during mania/major depression.

Catatonia can just happen with SUPER bad depressions any way. =( Sometimes you just get SO down and out that your body and mind say "nope" and just freeze. :sad: