The depressed side of bipolar disorder differs from major depression in some very significant ways. Knowing these myths will help you understand the dangers of bipolar depression and get better treatment.
Bipolar mania is worse than bipolar depression.
While mania is disturbing and potentially dangerous, depressions in bipolar disorder last longer, are harder to treat and result in a greater risk of suicide.
Bipolar mania and depression occur separately.
People in a bipolar depression often experience manic symptoms such as distractibility, racing thoughts and agitation.
Bipolar depression and unipolar depression are the same.
In fact, bipolar depression brings more physical symptoms such as slowed movement, excessive eating and sleeping too much. The episodes also begin earlier, occur with greater frequency, and go along with a greater risk of substance abuse.
Bipolar I depression is worse than bipolar II depression.
Although people with Bipolar II have less severe manic symptoms (hypomania), their depressions are more frequent and carry a greater risk of suicide.
Antidepressants work for bipolar depression.
According to a 2007 study, antidepressants are no more effective than placebo for bipolar depression and can lead to mania. Atypical antipsychotics and mood stabilizers are the treatments of choice.
References
- Bipolar depression: issues in diagnosis and treatment.
- Manic symptoms during depressive episodes in 1,380 patients with bipolar disorder: findings from the STEP-BD.
- Structure of mania: depressive, irritable, and psychotic clusters with different retrospectively-assessed course patterns of illness in randomized clinical trial participants.
