Unipolar depression is another form of depression. It is also known as major depressive disorder. It is a mood disorder commonly identified by sadness or blues, Irritation or decreased interest in favorite activities. Significant changes in weight, sleeping problems, fatigue, problems in concentrating and focusing are some of the symptoms. There can also be feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, nervousness, poor self-esteem, suicidal thoughts or suicidal tendencies.

Unipolar depression is a treatable disorder. If you exhibit more than five of the above symptoms for more than two weeks, then you need to be diagnosed for unipolar depression. Unipolar is more common in women then men and people of any age group can suffer from unipolar depression. It needs to be treated timely; if goes untreated it may cause severe problems. Psychotherapy, Medication and ECT (Electroconvulsive therapy) are very good treatment options for unipolar depression.

Unipolar depression and bipolar depression are both the types of major depression. Unipolar depression is more on depression side, where as bipolar depression is manic and exhibits both the symptoms of depression and mania. Following are the symptoms of unipolar depression and bipolar depression that establish differences between both the disorders.

• Sleeping disorder Insomnia generally occurs in Unipolar depression as a result of which sufferer finds it difficult to get off to sleep. On the other hand in bipolar depression Hypomania generally occurs in patients, as a result of which tiredness and too much sleeping becomes a problem for sufferers.

• Unipolar depression is more common in women and generally affects later in life at the age of forty plus. On the other hand bipolar depression occurs equally in men and women. It generally occurs at adolescent stage.

• Poor appetite, patients suffering from unipolar depression often found eating less, as a result of which they often loose plenty of body weight. Patients suffering from bipolar depression may exhibit increased eating habit or decreased eating habits, binge eating is the biggest symptom of bipolar disorder, and patients may loose or gain weight suddenly.

• Bipolar depression involves the symptoms like, inactivity, psychomotor retardation etc and unipolar depression involves, Agitated state of mind, restlessness, and pacing etc.

• The depressive episodes often last for long time in unipolar depression. in cases of depression episodes can be short or long .

• Unipolar depression is more responsive to treatment than bipolar depression.

• Suicide rates and drug abuse is low in unipolar depression. On the other hand bipolar depression has slightly higher rate of suicide and drug abuse.

• Unipolar depression exhibits sadness, helplessness and worthlessness as common symptoms and bipolar exhibits guilt as the biggest symptoms along with sadness, helplessness and worthlessness.

There is not much difference in the treatment methods of both the disorders, unipolar easily responds to common methods like medication psychotherapy and ECT and bipolar depression does not respond to these methods easily. Psychotherapy and ECT are good treatment methods for bipolar depression.

Related posts:

1. Difference between Bipolar Depression and Bipolar Disorder
2. What Are the Types of Depression?
3. Difference Between Psychotic and Neurotic Depression
4. Eating Disorder with Depression
5. What is Agitated Depression?