Difference Between Bipolar Disorder And Schizophrenia
It is quite common to talk about disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolarity since these are two concepts that have a lot in common and are sometimes confused. It is interesting to know that it has been found that there is a genetic relationship between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and as we already know, these are two conditions that cause quite a few problems in people’s thinking processes. However, and although many professionals sometimes find it difficult to differentiate them because they present some symptoms that are very similar, there are differences that make them different. But how do you know the difference between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia? In this PsychologyFor article, we are going to explain to you what each of these disorders consists of to finally let you know the difference between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia
Bipolar disorder is a fairly common mood disorder that is characterized by the person who suffers from it having extreme mood swings, its energy and operation. That is, the person can have manic episodes with depressive episodes, both in constant alternation. These episodes have an approximate duration of weeks and even months. For example, it may be that a person is experiencing a manic episode and therefore feels full of vitality and energy, has the feeling of “taking on the world”, can perform several tasks at the same time, is willing to face all kinds of of challenges and objectives proposed, etc. However, after a while the depressive episode arrives where you experience the opposite, feeling totally incapable of carrying out the tasks you previously performed, of moving towards your goals and objectives, you have the feeling that nothing makes sense, you feel empty and without energy.
It is worth mentioning that the ups and downs experienced in bipolar disorder are not at all similar to the considered normal ups and downs that people without said illness have. When these ups and downs are due to this type of condition, they cause serious problems in all or almost all areas of our life. This disease is even considered dangerous since people who suffer from it can, during a depressive episode, harm themselves and cause death.
Symptoms of bipolar disorder
The symptoms of bipolar disorder vary depending on the episode that the person is experiencing, since as we saw previously they may be alternating between a manic episode and a depressive episode. It is also important to mention that symptoms usually manifest differently in adolescents and adults. Some of the main psychological, behavioral and physical symptoms that generally occur in a person with bipolar disorder are the following:
Perform self-harming behaviors
Missing school or work
Delusions of grandeur
High energy levels or lack of energy
Restlessness
Feeling of emotional emptiness
Weight gain or loss
Changing the subject quickly when talking to someone
Sadness
Suicidal ideation
Low selfsteem
Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
Physical and mental slowness
Racing thoughts and inability to concentrate
Sleep little but feel very energetic
Inability to experience pleasure
extreme anxiety
What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects the way people who suffer from it think, feel and act. It is a less common disease than other types of mental disorders and it is considered that approximately 7 or 8 people in every 1,000 suffer from it. This type of illness is classified within psychotic disorders and is extremely disabling since people who have it lose contact with reality, suffer from hallucinations and show social disturbance. The first symptoms of schizophrenia usually begin to develop between the ages of 16 and 30, generally this disorder does not develop after the age of 45.
Symptoms of schizophrenia
The symptoms of schizophrenia are divided into 3 categories, positive, negative and cognitive. Next, we will briefly explain what each one consists of:
1. Positive symptoms
They are psychotic behaviors that are not normally seen in healthy people. In some people these types of symptoms are temporary, they come and go, however in others, they remain constant. Sometimes these types of symptoms are quite serious but in others they are barely noticeable. Its severity will depend on whether the person is receiving treatment or not. Positive symptoms include:
False ideas that they generate, such as believing that they are being persecuted and/or spied on, believing that they are famous people, that in the past they were dedicated to certain activities that never existed, etc.
They also include what hallucinations are, whereby the person feels, smells, tastes or sees something that does not really exist, for example, they can hear commands from imaginary voices that tell them what they should do at certain times.
Finally, they show speech and thinking disorders, they tend to speak without meaning, they are not able to maintain a conversation since they change from one topic to another easily, etc.
2. Negative symptoms
These symptoms are the most difficult to recognize because they are often confused with depression or other types of disorders. These types of symptoms include:
The reduction of speech, the person feels too exhausted to speak and isolates himself from others, shows apathy towards everything,
Decreased ability to express your emotions
Feelings of emptiness and dissatisfaction, etc.
They also tend to neglect their personal hygiene a lot, which is why they can appear depressed and/or lazy.
3. Cognitive symptoms
As with negative symptoms, these can be difficult to recognize. Sometimes some people begin to notice changes in their memory or thinking. These types of symptoms include:
The decreased ability to understand, store and use information to make decisions,
Decreased ability to make use of recently learned information, concentration problems, etc. which leads to worse results at a social and work level.
Difference between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia
After describing in more detail what bipolar disorder and schizophrenia consist of, below we will mention the 4 main differences between both disorders:
Bipolar disorder usually begins with the experience of a depressive state and/or a manic episode (in the smallest of cases). On the contrary, Schizophrenia usually begins with symptoms of delusions or hallucinations, as well as strange behavior that cannot be easily justified.
The vast majority of people who suffer from schizophrenia are quite withdrawn and tend to isolate themselves from others. On the contrary, People with bipolar disorder are generally quite sociable.
The main characteristic of bipolar disorder is the drastic change in mood, while in schizophrenia it is hallucinations and lack of contact with reality.
People with schizophrenia show depressive symptoms almost all the time constantly, while people who suffer from bipolar disorder do so only when they are facing a depressive episode.
This article is merely informative, at PsychologyFor we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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