What is meant by “unipolar depression” and “bipolar depression?
People who have recurrent episodes of major depression are sometimes said to have “unipolar depression” (or what used to be called “clinical depression”), because they only experience periods of low, or depressed mood. When people with bipolar disorder go through the low, depressed phase of the illness, they’re experiencing what is called “bipolar depression.” Their symptoms are very similar to those that someone with unipolar depression might have. The symptoms of unipolar and bipolar depression are very similar. The main difference is that someone with unipolar depression doesn’t experience the high periods of mania (if severe) or hypomania (if mild). And this is extremely important, because the preferred treatments of the two can be quite different. Click here to learn more about unipolar and bipolar depression.
People who have recurrent episodes of major depression are sometimes said to have “unipolar depression” (or what used to be called “clinical depression”), because they only experience periods of low, or depressed mood. When people with bipolar disorder go through the low, depressed phase of the illness, they’re experiencing what is called “bipolar depression.” Their symptoms are very similar to those that someone with unipolar depression might have. The main difference is that someone with unipolar depression doesn’t experience the high periods of mania (if severe) or hypomania (if mild). And this is extremely important, because the preferred treatments of the two can be quite different. Click here to learn more about unipolar and bipolar depression.
