Unipolar Depression
Unipolar depression is also referred to as major depressive disorder. Signs and symptoms of this condition include restlessness, irritability, agitation and noteworthy change in appetite often with weight loss or gain. Other symptoms include lack of energy, fatigue, difficulties in concentrating and feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness and guilt.
Sleep problems such as insomnia and hypersomnia, inactivity and withdrawal from activities that you previously enjoyed are other signs. Another indicator are thoughts of death and suicide. As compared to bipolar, suicide rates and cases of drug abuse are lower in people with this condition. This disorder is diagnosed after you have manifested more than five of the above symptoms for a period of at least two weeks.
Unipolar depression is characterized by depressive symptoms while bipolar is characterized by both manic and depressive episodes. One probable cause for this condition is chemical imbalances in the brain. Other probable causes are heredity and stressful situations. This disorder is normally more responsive to treatment as compared to the bipolar disorder. Available treatments include medications and psychotherapy. A combination of psychotherapy and antidepressants are said to be more effective than when only one is used.
In cases where a patient has failed to respond to both psychotherapy and antidepressants, electroconvulsive therapy or ECT can be used. This treatment uses an electrical current to cause a seizure. ECT is used to improve the mood of severely depressed or suicidal people. Unipolar depression is more common in women than in men and mostly affects people aged forty and above.
Mercy Maranga
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/unipolar-depression-1058008.html
October 16th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
How do unipolar depression and bipolar depression differ?
Also, which one has the higher rate of suicide?
October 16th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Depression is just that, depression. You may feel sad, blue or have anger outbursts, etc… Bipolar disorder is Manic-Depression. You have times of High-highs and Low-Low’s. They each last for a period of time, and than go away. In a manic phase you may stay awake for days and be strung out. In a depressive phase, you can sleep for days and be totally gone. If you think you have bipolar, please seek help. The average person with BPD waits 10 years before they are treated, and there is nothing to be ashamed of…it is a disease like High Blood pressure, or Diabetes. Good Luck!!
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October 16th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
UNI-polar means one. Generally these people only experience one end of the spectrum which is the down side. They are generally unhappy and feel down ALL of the time.
BI-polar means two. These people will experience both ends of the spectrum. They will have periods when they are really at the bottom end and feel down, but then periods at the top end and feel really really happy and like things are going really well.
The higher rate of suicide is with unipolar, most likely due to the fact that they spend more time at the bottom end.
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October 16th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
UNI -polar = one
BI - polar = two
Bipolar people are therefore twice as crazy.
I can say that because I am triple-dee-do polar…it’s way worse.
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October 16th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
I believe that unipolar depression is most often referred to as CLINICAL DEPRESSION. The person is sad nearly all of the time. Bi-Polar is when a person has fluctuating periods of mania followed by extremes of severe depression. For a person with bipolar it is like being on a roller coaster. Many people who suffer bi-polar don’t take their medications because they love the way the mania makes them feel. Mania makes the person feel like they are invincible and can do anything—they need little sleep and often engage in impulsive behaviours—like gambling, shopping, sex (all to an excess). When the mania ends the person will then become depressed.
Both types Major Depressive Disorder and Bi-Polar if not treated, can lead to people feeling hopeless, helpless and there is no point of living. Both types can cause people to commit suicide.
Depression is a treatable condition. It is caused most often by a chemical imbalance in the brain.
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October 16th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Suicide rates are difficult for researchers to figure. In general, bipolar disorder will have the higher suicide rate because bipolar disorder is a very serious condition always, and many cases of depression are moderate to mild, and may resolve over time. Bipolar almost always comes back. Also, unipolar depression is more treatable than bipolar depression.
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I have bipolar disorder and read a lot
October 16th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Depressive episodes in major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder are often indistinguishable. There is some evidence that "atypical" depressive symptoms such as increased sleep, increased appetite, weight gain and severe fatigue may be more common in bipolar depression. Bipolar depressions often begin more abruptly and are briefer than unipolar depressions. The rate of suicide for both major depressive disorder (unipolar depression) and bipolar disorder are 10-15%. There are alot of factors that go into to suicide risk such as frequency, severity and chronicity of the depressive episodes as well as concurrent substance use or dependence.
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