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Bipolar Disorder - Bipolar Manic Depression

Bipolar Depression (sometimes called affective mood disorder) is less common than other types of depression and is characterized by the contrast between extremes of mood - periods of depression followed by periods of 'mania' or elation. Sometimes the swings of mood are dramatic and sudden, other times they are more gradual, and much harder for the person - and those closest to them - to know where they are on a spectrum of behavior. But it is not the same as someone who merely has 'mood swings'.

A person suffering from bipolar depression can sometimes be disabled though there are a number of persons who can still lead normal and productive lives even if they do not get treated for bipolar depression. The less severe form of high in bipolar disorder is hypomania . People with this form have increased energy and tend to become more active than usual.

Bipolar depressive disorder is also called manic-depressive disorder. In these cases, patients experience severe depression alternating with episodes of mania (intensely happy mood). Bipolar Depression affects about 1 percent of the population. It is characterized by periods of depression, contrasted with periods of mania. Typically there are no clear triggers and treatment of the Bipolar Depression should be under the supervision of a psychiatrist. Women are more commonly diagnosed with type 2 bipolar disorder.

Types of Bipolar Depressive Disorder

There are two types of bipolar depression and these are Bipolar I and Bipolar II and, if these conditions are not treated, they can be extremely disabling conditions that may even prove fatal as it may induce the patient to commit suicide.

Difference between Bipolar and unipolar depressive disorders

There is a fundamental difference between bipolar depression and unipolar depression in that the former may involve manic as well as depressive moods and the time it takes as well as the intensity can change from person to person.

Bipolar depression results in disability, lost years of productivity and there is also much danger of committing suicide and, therefore, it is indeed very insidious. Some patients of bipolar depression may have paranoia and feel persecuted or monitored by an entity more powerful and this could be the government or an intimidating force.

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