Clinical differences between bipolar and unipolar depression

Forty, L. et al. (2008) Clinical differences between bipolar and unipolar depression. British Journal of Psychiatry, 192(5), pp. 388-389. (doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.107.045294)

Abstract

It is commonly – but wrongly – assumed that there are no important differences between the clinical presentations of major depressive disorder and bipolar depression. Here we compare clinical course variables and depressive symptom profiles in a large sample of individuals with major depressive disorder (n=593) and bipolar disorder (n=443). Clinical characteristics associated with a bipolar course included the presence of psychosis, diurnal mood variation and hypersomnia during depressive episodes, and a greater number of shorter depressive episodes. Such features should alert a clinician to a possible bipolar course. This is important because optimal management is not the same for bipolar and unipolar depression.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Smith, Professor Daniel
• Authors: Forty, L., Smith, D.J., Jones, L., Jones, I., Caesar, S., Cooper, C., Fraser, C., Gordon-Smith, K., Hyde, S., Farmer, A., McGuffin, P., and Craddock, N.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: British Journal of Psychiatry
• ISSN: 0007-1250
• ISSN (Online): 1472-1465