Difference between Schizophrenia and Manic Depression

1. Difference between Schizophrenia and Manic Depression

2. Both Schizophrenia and Manic Depression are lifelong mental health disorders that affect a person’s ability to think and behave normally. One can easily be mistaken for the other because of symptoms of both appearing to be similar at first. What is important is a proper diagnosis for early intervention and treatment.

3. If you or your beloved is struggling with the symptoms of either of the two, seek immediate help. Treatment is the key to living a healthy, fulfilling life. At Harlem East Life Plan, our inpatient programs include medication, psychotherapy, and education to help you manage your symptoms and live your best life. The Harlem East Life Plan’s Mental Health and Wellness New York City Center, is an outpatient counseling program that assists an individual in developing a full range of life enhancing skills.

4. Manic Depression, also called bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings with periods of normal energy in between and is typically diagnosed in a person’s teens or early 20s, but the condition can appear at any time. Symptoms- High energy levels, decreased sleep, inappropriate social behavior, increased activity, easily distracted, excessive talking speed or volume, reckless behaviour, unusually irritable, increased sense of well-being. These are the symptoms when a person with manic depression is having a manic or hypomanic episode.

5. Basically, manic depression can be broken down into two types: mania and major depression. Depressive episodes also cause significant interruptions in a person’s career and relationships with some symptoms being difficulty sleeping or excessive sleeping; feelings of worthlessness and excessive guilt; difficulty thinking, concentrating and making decisions; restlessness or sluggish behaviour; a feeling of sadness, emptiness and hopelessness; loss of interest in most activities and so forth.

6. Schizophrenia is a serious mental health disorder that affects how an individual interprets reality with roughly 1% of the United States population suffering from it. Symptoms: 1. The “positive” symptoms that refer to the presence of symptoms may include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, confused thoughts, unpredictable movements, etc. 2. Negative symptoms where the word “negative” refers to a lack of normal mental functioning may include not showing emotion, lack of self-hygiene, struggling with basic activities, severe withdrawal, etc.

7. 3. Cognitive symptoms include reduced attention span, reduced mental speed and reaction time, poor ability to absorb information and problems remembering recently learned information. These symptoms are more subtle and are detected with thorough testing. Like we have already mentioned that manic depression and schizophrenia share many similarities which necessitates thorough testing and assessment of one’s detailed medical history for accurate diagnosis. Few key differences include

8. A person affected by manic depression often functions well at work, school, and in social situations when not experiencing episodes of mania or depression while individuals with untreated schizophrenia typically struggle to maintain jobs and relationships and have difficulty functioning day-to-day. 2. A person with manic depression will be more expressive with his or her feelings. On the contrary, someone with schizophrenia will be unable to show emotion, lack facial expressions, and speak with a flat tone.

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