Whats the difference between schizophrenia and bipolar w/ psychotic features?!


Question: Whats the difference between schizophrenia and bipolar w/ psychotic features?
Answers:

Schizophrenics deal with problems differentiating real and unreal perceptions. Think of it as the senses telling you all the wrong things: visual and audio hallucinations are common, but tactile confusion (feeling things on your skin that aren't there), etc. can also be symptomatic. Bizarre behaviors are often associated with schizophrenics, who believe that what they are experiencing is real, and respond accordingly no matter how inappropriate these actions are for dealing with their actual environment or the 'real world.' (They don't, btw, take on other identities, for example, thinking that they are Napoleon, or express multiple personalities, as people commonly misstate. They may, however, express delusional thinking, for example, paranoia, or grandiosity.)

Bipolars deal with extreme mood swings, between depression and mania. If they suffer psychotic features, during extreme mood episodes they experience symptoms similar to schizophrenics; hallucinations and/or delusional thinking. But the mood dysfunction is the primary issue.

Schizoaffectives suffer the symptoms of both schizophrenics and bipolars--mood swings and psychosis/delusion. Unlike someone bipolar with psychotic features, whose psychotic episodes tend to associate with the mood swing, a schizoaffective's psychosis is persistent and constant, despite mood stabilization.

These three illnesses can be difficult to diagnose due to the similarity and overlap of symptomology. They require observation and evaluation over time, and are usually distinguished by how long the psychotic or mood symptoms last, either alone, separately or relative to the other.



Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that makes it difficult to tell the difference between real and unreal experiences, to think logically, to have normal emotional responses, and to behave normally in social situations.

Symptoms

Schizophrenia may have a variety of symptoms. Usually the illness develops slowly over months or years. Like other chronic illnesses, schizophrenia cycles between periods of fewer symptoms and periods of more symptoms.

At first, you may feel tense, or have trouble sleeping or concentrating. You can become isolated and withdrawn, and have trouble making or keeping friends.

As the illness continues, psychotic symptoms develop:

Appearance or mood that shows no emotion (flat affect)

Bizarre movements that show less of a reaction to the environment (catatonic behavior)

False beliefs or thoughts that are not based in reality (delusions)

Hearing, seeing, or feeling things that are not there (hallucinations)

Problems with thinking often occur:

Problems paying attention

Thoughts "jump" between unrelated topics (disordered thinking)

Symptoms can be different depending on the type of schizophrenia:

Paranoid types often feel anxious, are more often angry or argumentative, and falsely believe that others are trying to harm them or their loved ones.

Disorganized types have problems thinking and expressing their ideas clearly, often exhibit childlike behavior, and frequently show little emotion.

Catatonic types may be in a constant state of unrest, or they may not move or be underactive. Their muscles and posture may be rigid. They may grimace or have other odd facial expressions, and they may be less responsive to others.

Undifferentiated types may have symptoms of more than one other type of schizophrenia.

Residual types experience some symptoms, but not as many as those who are in a full-blown episode of schizophrenia.

People with any type of schizophrenia may have difficulty keeping friends and working. They may also have problems with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts or behaviors.



Bipolar disorder involves periods of elevated or irritable mood (mania), alternating with periods of depression. The "mood swings" between mania and depression can be very abrupt.
Symptoms

The manic phase may last from days to months and can include the following symptoms:

Agitation or irritation

Inflated self-esteem (delusions of grandeur, false beliefs in special abilities)

Little need for sleep

Noticeably elevated mood

Hyperactivity

Increased energy

Lack of self-control

Racing thoughts

Over-involvement in activities

Poor temper control

Reckless behavior

Binge eating, drinking, and/or drug use

Impaired judgment

Sexual promiscuity

Spending sprees

Tendency to be easily distracted

These symptoms of mania are seen with bipolar disorder I. In people with bipolar disorder II, hypomanic episodes involve similar symptoms that are less intense.

The depressed phase of both types of bipolar disorder includes the following symptoms:

Daily low mood

Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions

Eating disturbances

Loss of appetite and weight loss

Overeating and weight gain

Fatigue or listlessness

Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness and/or guilt

Loss of self-esteem

Persistent sadness

Persistent thoughts of death

Sleep disturbances

Excessive sleepiness

Inability to sleep

Suicidal thoughts

Withdrawal from activities that were once enjoyed

Withdrawal from friends

There is a high risk of suicide with bipolar disorder. While in either phase, patients may abuse alcohol or other substances, which can make the symptoms worse.

Sometimes there is an overlap between the two phases. Manic and depressive symptoms may occur together or quickly one after the other in what is called a mixed state.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001925/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001924/



schizophrenia is when you hear voices and when you see stuff that isnt actually there and bipolar is when you have horrible moodswings.




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