Comparative Analysis of Symptoms and Treatments in Unipolar and Bipolar Depression- The Role of Non-Medication Therapies

Comparative Analysis of Symptoms and Treatments in Unipolar and Bipolar Depression- The Role of Non-Medication Therapies

Unipolar and bipolar depression often share symptoms. However, bipolar depression is considered more episodic than unipolar depression. Furthermore, bipolar depression is on the edge of mania, and this mania risk causes the treatment for bipolar depression to be quite different from that of unipolar treatment (Baldessarini, Vázquez & Tondo, 2020). The most common symptoms of bipolar depression are manic symptoms such as high energy, loss of touch with reality, euphoria, and reduced need for sleep. The depressive episodes include low motivation, low energy as well as loss in every activity. On the other hand, unipolar episodes are characterized by changes in sleep, energy level, appetite, self-esteem, concentration, and daily behavior. Individuals also tend to experience anxiety, guilt, apathy, mood swings, loss of interest in everyday activity, and sadness. Some of these symptoms can also be observed in bipolar depression. Need help with your assignment ? Reach out to us. We offer excellent services.

The most common factors that are suggestive of bipolar disorder, as opposed to unipolar disorder, include frequent depressive episodes and early onset of depression. In addition to mania/hypomania symptoms within the episode of depression, family history of major mental illness and lack of response to antidepressants. Antidepressants are likely to be ineffective in the treatment of bipolar depression and could even result in undesirable consequences like rapid cycling, treatment-emergent mania or hypomania, or enhanced suicidality (Rolin, Whelan & Montano, 2020). Bipolar depression can be better treated using mood stabilizers and antipsychotics (Baldessarini, Vázquez & Tondo, 2020).

Non-medication treatments such as psychotherapy, exercise, relaxation techniques, and acupuncture are likely to be more effective in unipolar depression compared to bipolar depression. A combination of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy has been proven to be more effective in the treatment of unipolar depression. Mania and hypomania incidents in bipolar depression make it more difficult to treat the disorder using non-medical strategies. Non-medication treatments could be more effective in unipolar depression treatment since moods can easily be altered through such treatments compared to bipolar depression.

References

Baldessarini, R. J., Vázquez, G. H., & Tondo, L. (2020). Bipolar depression: a major unsolved challenge. International journal of bipolar disorders, 8(1), 1-13.

Rolin, D., Whelan, J., & Montano, C. B. (2020). Is it depression, or is it bipolar depression?. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 32(10), 703-713.

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Compare the symptoms and treatments of unipolar depression and bipolar depression.

Comparative Analysis of Symptoms and Treatments in Unipolar and Bipolar Depression- The Role of Non-Medication Therapies

Why could nonmedication treatments be more effective for unipolar depression than bipolar depression?