A person with manic depression will be more expressive with his or her feelings, while a person with schizophrenia will be unable to show emotion, lack facial expressions, and speak with a flat tone. Psychotic episodes associated with manic depression will usually mirror the person's moods.
While bipolar disorder cannot develop into schizophrenia, it's possible to experience symptoms of both. Before you consult a mental health professional, here are a few things you should know about the two conditions.
Schizophrenia causes a person to appear to lose touch with reality. People with bipolar disorder may experience episodes of mania and depression, often with periods of relative stability occurring in between. Individuals with schizophrenia experience symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations or delusions.
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by episodes of depression and episodes of mania or hypomania. Schizophrenia is a psychiatric condition characterized by recurrent hallucinations (false sensations) and/or delusions (false beliefs), as well as impaired functioning.
An episode of mania, major depression, or a mix of both. Symptoms of schizophrenia. At least two periods of psychotic symptoms, each lasting 2 weeks. One of the episodes must happen without depressive or manic symptoms.
Bipolar disorder (formerly called manic-depressive illness or manic depression) is a mental illness that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, activity levels, and concentration. These shifts can make it difficult to carry out day-to-day tasks.
Bipolar psychosis happens when a person experiences an episode of severe mania or depression, along with psychotic symptoms and hallucinations. The symptoms tend to match a person's mood. During a manic phase, they may believe they have special powers. This type of psychosis can lead to reckless or dangerous behavior.
Early signs (called “prodromal symptoms”) that you're getting ready to have a manic episode can last weeks to months. If you're not already receiving treatment, episodes of bipolar-related mania can last between three and six months. With effective treatment, a manic episode usually improves within about three months.
As a symptom of a physical illness or neurological condition
Some physical illnesses and neurological conditions can cause hypomania and mania. This includes lupus, encephalitis, dementia, brain injury, brain tumours and stroke.
The exact causes of schizophrenia are unknown. Research suggests a combination of physical, genetic, psychological and environmental factors can make a person more likely to develop the condition. Some people may be prone to schizophrenia, and a stressful or emotional life event might trigger a psychotic episode.
Psychotic features usually appear during manic rather than depressive episodes. Mood-congruent delusions (e.g., grandiosity) and mood-incongruent delusions (e.g., paranoia) are the most common psychotic features. Psychosis often presents as a form of thought disorder (e.g., tangentiality).
Bipolar disorder.
Some people with severe bipolar disorder have delusions or hallucinations. That's why they may be misdiagnosed with schizophrenia.
The results showed that manic episodes led to decreased volume in certain areas of the brain. Bipolar disorder has been linked to various structural brain changes, including most notably progressive grey matter loss in the brain's frontal regions.
People with schizoaffective disorder can have a wide variety of different symptoms, including having unusual perceptual experiences (hallucinations) or beliefs others do not share (delusions), mood (such as marked depression), low motivation, inability to experience pleasure, and poor attention.
Thus, when the term “manic episode” is used it may refer to any one of the three stages of mania: hypomania, acute mania, or delirious mania. Manic episodes are often preceded by a prodrome, lasting from a few days to a few months, of mild and often transitory and indistinct manic symptoms.
Bipolar disorder can cause your mood to swing from an extreme high to an extreme low. Manic symptoms can include increased energy, excitement, impulsive behaviour, and agitation. Depressive symptoms can include lack of energy, feeling worthless, low self-esteem and suicidal thoughts.
A person with bipolar disorder may be unaware they're in the manic phase. After the episode is over, they may be shocked at their behaviour. But at the time, they may believe other people are being negative or unhelpful. Some people with bipolar disorder have more frequent and severe episodes than others.
A person usually begins to feel some improvement within six weeks of starting to take antipsychotic medication. However, it can take several months before they feel the full benefits. It is not possible to predict which medication will work best for a specific person.
Both a manic and a hypomanic episode include three or more of these symptoms: Abnormally upbeat, jumpy or wired. Increased activity, energy or agitation. Exaggerated sense of well-being and self-confidence (euphoria)
Symptoms of manic episodes include showing very high energy in speech and activity, agitation, and a reduced need for sleep. Symptoms of depressive episodes include low energy and motivation, lack of interest in daily activities and sometimes suicidal thoughts.