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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by RTC 37 on November 21, 2003, at 15:46:37
I've been reading about all mental health illnesses. But it seems like these have the same symptoms. Is one worse than the other? Are there degrees of both?
Thanks for reading this.
Posted by stjames on November 21, 2003, at 16:09:21
In reply to Bipolar or Schizophrenia, What's the diff.?, posted by RTC 37 on November 21, 2003, at 15:46:37
It the difference between mood and thought.
In BP, mood is unstable and changes from manic to depressed in a cycle.In Schizophrenia, thoughts are effected. One hears, sees, feels, or tastes things that are not there.
Posted by RTC 37 on November 21, 2003, at 16:24:20
In reply to Re: Bipolar or Schizophrenia, What's the diff.?, posted by stjames on November 21, 2003, at 16:09:21
> It the difference between mood and thought.
> In BP, mood is unstable and changes from manic to depressed in a cycle.
>
> In Schizophrenia, thoughts are effected. One hears, sees, feels, or tastes things that are not there.
>
> My wife has both manic and depressed cycle, but also hears voices that tell her to kill herself. I'm looking for a more optimistic future I guess.
Posted by linkadge on November 21, 2003, at 16:35:24
In reply to Re: Bipolar or Schizophrenia, What's the diff.?, posted by stjames on November 21, 2003, at 16:09:21
Just to add to what St. James said. Some cases of bipolar disorder display changes of thought as well. In certain cases of severe severe mania, reality may becomes distorted, a person can claim to have special sences, delusions and paranoia etc may be present. As well, depression may be psychotic in which a person can have a distorted perseption of reality such as hearing things, and difficuly distingushing between the past and present.
But yes, primarily bipolar is characterized by fluctuations in the mood, where schitsophrenia is a disease of distored perceptions and thinking.
One lady I met in a psychward was so manic that she believed she was God's fundemental creation next to Jesus. She would not talk to anybody because she beleived they were creations of the devil, and that she was the earth's last pure being.
There is a great deal of overlap between the two illnesses. Bipolar mania, can sucessfully be treated with anipsychotic medication, which poses the question, is the fluctuation in mood a reaction to the destored perception.
Linkadge
Posted by RTC 37 on November 21, 2003, at 16:46:14
In reply to Re: Bipolar or Schizophrenia, What's the diff.?, posted by linkadge on November 21, 2003, at 16:35:24
Thanks for the info. It seems like such a thin line between the two. My wife may have a touch of "shell shock" due to the bizzare and brutal way her mother commited suicide. In addition to the suicide some of her mother's last words were along the lines of "I hate you". The voices in her head are that of her mothers telling her to hurt herself in the same fasion as she did, which was cutting.
My wife has been prescribed Geodon and is still hearing the voices after 3 days (which is normal). Now she sleeps most of the day and when she is awake she is groggy, dazed and confused slightly.
She is still in the hospital. She tells me she feels the med. working, but I am pesimistic because of the voices, which still come and go.
I'll keep the board posted with her progress.
Thanks to all and God bless.
Posted by RTC 37 on November 21, 2003, at 18:44:12
In reply to Re: Bipolar or Schizophrenia, What's the diff.?, posted by RTC 37 on November 21, 2003, at 16:46:14
I just left the hospital where my wife is. She is improving steadily. Very tired (falling asleep in mid sentence) but optimistic about the med (geodon) and her recovery. Voices still there full force, but much less depresion and fewer anxiety attacks.
Posted by Daniel J. on November 21, 2003, at 19:26:25
In reply to Re: Bipolar or Schizophrenia, What's the diff.?, posted by RTC 37 on November 21, 2003, at 18:44:12
It is hard to believe 20 years ago there wasn't a decent medical outlook for Schiz. Now there are many wonderful meds.including Geodon,Zyprexa, Risperdal,Abilify They all work and most individuals can tolerate them. My son's recovery despite a few setbacks has been a medical miracle. I'm happy to hear your wife is improving and I believe she will recover with time.
It sounds like she is in good hands.
Posted by crazychickuk on November 22, 2003, at 7:18:13
In reply to Re: Bipolar or Schizophrenia, What's the diff.?, posted by linkadge on November 21, 2003, at 16:35:24
Reading this i think i have been misdiagnosed..... i got diagnosed with anxiety/panick attacks and depression... yeah right my bum...... I get so manic sometimes i feel i am the only pure being and that this world is me, like i am dead or whateva i am confused..
Posted by RTC 37 on November 22, 2003, at 7:24:33
In reply to Re: Bipolar or Schizophrenia, What's the diff.?, posted by crazychickuk on November 22, 2003, at 7:18:13
CrazychickUK,
Call your doctor and tell him exactly what you think.
Posted by LostBoyinNC34 on November 22, 2003, at 22:30:32
In reply to Bipolar or Schizophrenia, What's the diff.?, posted by RTC 37 on November 21, 2003, at 15:46:37
> I've been reading about all mental health illnesses. But it seems like these have the same symptoms. Is one worse than the other? Are there degrees of both?
>
> Thanks for reading this.One thing with schizophrenia is that people are generally very very "flat" and have no personality or anything. Its like they are a zombie sort of, even though they can be very argumentative or agitated at times. But most of the time they just like to withdraw and be real quiet. Very introverted and "flat."
A bipolar might be psychotic at times and even paranoid, but they still exhibit emotion and affect. Schizos dont...they come across as "dead."
Also, bipolars have mood swings. If they are manic it can be severe mood swings and very noticeable. If they have mood swings they are probably either manic depressive or schizo-affective.
Im no expert on either bipolar or schizophrenia by any means, but the above is the best way I know how to differentiate the two.
Posted by Interject79 on November 24, 2003, at 13:48:19
In reply to Re: Bipolar or Schizophrenia, What's the diff.?, posted by LostBoyinNC34 on November 22, 2003, at 22:30:32
There is also a schizoaffective disorder, which is probably a form of bipolar disorder with schizophrenic symptoms as well. People with this seem to do better on antipsychotics than mood stabilizers, as I understand.
I was diagnosed with bipolar I disorder with psychotic features, which turns out to be A LOT like schizoaffective disorder. Mood stabilizers are horrible for me; antipsychotics work. I also don't have a manic response to most andidepressants and can take stimulants (like Adderall) without causing mania. A lot of my experiences are not typical of bipolar but more typical of schizophrenia. Both are pretty serious conditions but are very treatable and can be overcome.
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