Depressive and Bipolar Disorders

Depressive and Bipolar disorders are characterized by extreme, inappropriate emotion that is distressful, deviant, and dysfunctional. In the case of depressive disorder, this emotion would be persistent depression. In cases of bipolar disorder, the person alternates between elation and depression.

Depressive Disorder

People with depressive disorder experience deep and persistent feelings of sadness or despair, feelings of worthlessness, and/or loss of interest in things that once were pleasurable. In major depressive disorder, severe symptoms interfere with the ability to work, sleep, study, eat, experience pleasure and last two or more weeks. In persistent depressive disorder, symptoms last for years. Life events can lead to depression for some people. After the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, a breakup, many people experience symptoms of depression. These people would not be diagnosed with depression unless the symptoms lasted more than two weeks and met the qualifications listed in the first section of this unit (distressful, deviant, and dysfunctional).

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is characterized by periods of mania alternating with periods of depression. While most average people experience days where they have more energy and days when they have less energy, a person with bipolar disorder has extreme moods that affect their sleep, energy levels, and ability to think clearly. People with bipolar disorder often make risky, inappropriate decisions while in manic episodes, and then fall into periods of deep depression where they are unable to get out of bed for days or weeks.

Symptoms of manic episodes include:

inflated self-esteem
decreased need for sleep
increased energy and talkativeness
racing thoughts
risky behavior

Symptoms of depressed episodes include:

depressed mood most of the day
diminished interest in activities
decreased energy
feelings of guilt or worthlessness
difficulty concentrating and making decisions

Review these disorders below:

Depressive Disorders

experiences extreme, inappropriate emotion that is distressful, deviant, and dysfunctional
experience deep and persistent feelings of sadness or despair, feelings of worthlessness, and/or loss of interest in things that were once pleasurable
symptoms last more than two weeks

Bipolar Disorders

experiences extreme inappropriate emotion that is distressful, deviant, and dysfunctional
characterized by periods of mania alternating with periods of depression
extreme moods affect sleep, energy levels, and ability to think clearly

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