Bipolar vs Schizophrenia: Difference and Comparison

There are several diseases that we suffer from. Some of them are easier to detect and further cure. Whereas some of them are similar in ways that detection of it becomes difficult.

Examples of such diseases can be bipolar and schizophrenia. Both of them are similar in ways that it becomes difficult to recognize them. Both of these diseases a dangerous if not treated before it’s too late. But that does not make the same. They are different in more ways.

Key Takeaways

1. Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by episodes of mania and depression, while schizophrenia is a mental health condition characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and disordered thinking.
2. Bipolar disorder affects a person’s mood and energy levels, while schizophrenia affects a person’s perception of reality.
3. Bipolar disorder can be treated with medication and therapy, while schizophrenia is treated with antipsychotic medication and therapy.

Bipolar vs Schizophrenia

People with Bipolar disorder appear “moody”, while people with Schizophrenia may appear to have a “flattened” mood (not happy or sad). People with schizophrenia have a greater tendency to be suspicious and paranoid. Symptoms of the former are mania and depression, and of the latter are psychosis.

Bipolar disorder is a type of mood disorder in which a person feels depressed and has constant changes in mood or emotions. The cause of this is not known as it can be genetic or due to environmental stress, especially depression.

There is no medicine for the disorder, but it can be cured to a level with behavioural therapy and a healthy environment.

Schizophrenia is a type of Psychotic disorder that has severe symptoms.

This order is divided into several types, Paranoid schizophrenia, Hebephrenic schizophrenia, Catatonic schizophrenia, Undifferentiated schizophrenia, Residual schizophrenia, Simple schizophrenia, and Unspecified schizophrenia.

In this disorder, it becomes difficult for a person to differentiate between reality and hallucination. There is no medicine and direct cure for this, but of course, it is manageable.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Bipolar	Schizophrenia
Type of disorder	Mood disorder	Psychotic disorder
Symptoms	Less severe	More severe
Gray matter	Does not have	They have some gray matter
Children	Children also suffer from it.	Children do not suffer.
Ordinary	More ordinary	Less ordinary

What is Bipolar?

Bipolar is a disorder in which a person suffers from extremely different emotions. The symptoms of bipolar disorder are:

1. Manic Episodes: under this episode, a person may feel extremely happy or extremely sad. He just is over-emotional.
2. Hypomanic Episodes: these episodes are similar to Manic Episodes means that under these two, people are filled with changes in emotions, but the difference is it is less intense in comparison.
3. Depressive Episodes: These episodes are similar to the people suffering from depression. The person tends to be depressed and lose interest in all most everything.

Except for all the above symptoms, other behavioural symptoms can be noticed in a person suffering from bipolar disorder.

These symptoms include restlessness, hyperactivity, tiredness, trouble staying focused, irritability, extreme self-confidence and impulsivity, suicidal thoughts, etc. They can also include hallucinations and delusions during depressive episodes.

Bipolar disorder is mostly genetic, but that does not mean that if your parents are suffering, you will also suffer from it. But it can also be developed due to mental stress. There is no blood test for detecting this; it can only be recognized through behaviour mainly.

Disorder treatment:

• Learn to manage mood changes effectively.
• Education about this is important and especially in the family, as they are the best support system.
• A healthy relationship should be maintained between friends, and in case any relationship is not good for mental health, it should not be continued.
• Schedules your day in such a way that you get proper sleep and rest along with least or no stress.

What is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental health disorder. Its symptoms are divided into two parts. One is adding behaviour that includes hallucinations and delusions, while the other is associated with social withdrawal (removing any social interaction).

Other symptoms include social isolation, loss of interest in activities, moodiness, lack of any feelings, making irrational statements, surprising or unusual behaviour, altered sleep schedule, getting either too much or too little sleep, inability to express emotions, inappropriate laughter, violent outbursts, acts of violence toward yourself, hypersensitivity to smells, touches, tastes, and sounds, hallucinations, delusions, etc.

For treating Schizophrenia, antipsychotics and psychotherapy are required. Except this, it can also be cured with the following:

• Psychotherapy is a good theory for curing Schizophrenia.
• Medication is also proven to be a curing option, as it provides peace of mind.
• Support from family and friends is always best for mental health.
• Proper sleep and no stress.  

This is not always possible, if you experience Schizophrenia once, you will suffer it again. This disorder is common among adults and children above the age of 15.

Like bipolar disorder, there is no trace of this in the blood. Therefore it cannot be found in any blood test normally.

Main Differences Between Bipolar and Schizophrenia

1. Bipolar is a type of mood disorder that causes frequent changes in the mood of a person, a person may feel the happiest, but in the next few minutes, he may feel angry and the complete opposite of his personality, whereas Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder that means in this a person suffers from abnormal thinking and have unacceptable perception.
2. Both of them are pretty similar, but both of them include different types of similarities, bipolar in comparison, has less severe symptoms, such as a shift in mood and energy, whereas Schizophrenia has relatively more severe symptoms that include hallucinations and delusions, etc.
3. Studies show that maybe both of the disorders are in genes, but people suffering from Schizophrenia have proved to be having gray matter in their brain, but in the case of bipolar disorder, no such gray matter has been found.
4. Both of the diseases are common in teens and adults, but bipolar is also found in children, whereas disorder such as Schizophrenia is not found in children but only people above the age of 15.
5. Both of the diseases also differ in terms of ordinary. Bipolar is a disorder that can easily be found and is more common among people, whereas Schizophrenia is not common as compared to bipolar.

References

1. https://academic.oup.com/schizophreniabulletin/article-abstract/34/4/760/1913246
2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00702-004-0115-1
3. https://academic.oup.com/schizophreniabulletin/article-abstract/40/Suppl_2/S131/1933599
4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178115003170