What is the difference between being bipolar and manic depressive?

Question

Are they the same but the term "bipolar" is more polite/appropriate/acceptable or are they two different mental diagnoses?

Answer 1

it's the same. manic depression is less commonly used now.

Answer 2

Yes, they are the same. Over the years bipolar researchers and doctors started using the term bipolar because it was more descriptive for a wide spectrum of the disorder. Manic depression, was kind of a black or white term. Also manic can be derogatory, it's similar to maniac.

I have worked with scores of psychiatrists both as a nurse and patient, they say that it is the same.

Answer 3

Bipolar is the same as manic depression.  They are just using the term bipolar now.

Answer 4

it is the same

Answer 5

exact same thing...

Answer 6

Bipolar is where you are normal for a few days, and then you have these really dark episodes where your brain spins for days and you remain awake, in a crazy state of mind.

Manic depressive is when you are constantly depressed with some associated severe behaviour problems (thoughts of suicide and stuff like that).

These two forms of mental illness are very different from each other. although often times they are quoted as being the same.  Even Wikipedia has misrepresented these two distinct forms of mental illness.

Answer 7

Yes they are the same thing.  Bipolar is the term most often used because it's shorter, and is the clinical term.  It's also more "polite" as you mention. ;)

Manic depressive means to have periods of depression, followed by periods of mania (excessive excitement or enthusiasm).  That is what bipolar is.  Same thing, bi (plural) polar (opposite in character), hence more than one mood that are opposite, hence manic depression.

Answer 8

For more info about bipolar disorder see http://www.identifybipolardisorder.com

Answer 9

I'm pretty sure they are the same.  

Answer 10

'Bipolar' is the term used to describe what was formerly called 'manic depression'. Its the same illness, but 'bipolar' is what's typically used by the National Institute of Mental Health.  

Answer 11

bipolar happens over a larger period of time.

Answer 12

None. The reason they call it bipolar now is that there are different levels or types of this disease (I, II etc) as in rapid swings or cycles and wide or long phases of either mania or depression, interspersed.

Answer 13

You're right. Bipolar is considered to be less offensive, but they are the same mental illness.

Answer 14

Different name for the same thing..."manic-depressive" is old-style (I think the "manic" part raised too many hackles).

Answer 15

Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, is a medical illness that causes extreme shifts in mood, energy, and functioning.  They did not come out with the name "Bipolar disorder" as somebody mentioned to become politically correct.

Mania is the "hyper-action packed side" of BiPolar Disorder.  Examples of symptoms are:

Racing thougts, elated happy mood or irritable/angry unpleasant mood

hyper verbal

risk taking

spending sprees

drug/alcohol abuse

hyper sexuality

decreased sleep without fatigue

impulsivity

Symptoms of Depression:

Prolonged sadness

increased feelings of worry and anxiety

becoming withdrawn

loss of apetite

suicidal thoughts

loss of energy

apetite will either increase/decrease

BiPolar has two states:  Mixed state and Rapid Cyclers.  

Best thing to do is goto www.nami.org.  The National Alliance on Mental Illness.

They can inform you on not just BP Disorder but other disorders all.  

Answer 16

Thirty years ago, manic depressive was the term used to describe alternating periods of extreme highs and deep depression.  Somewhere along the way (like everything else nowadays) it became referred to as bipolar.

Makes you wonder what the name will be in another 25 years!

Answer 17

Bi polar = u go through emotion like crazy including depression

depression =u are depressed.

I`m bi polar and depressed often ..So maybe they are the same thing.

Answer 18

No difference.  They are the same.  "Bipolar" was invented about 20 years ago by the psychiatric association in an effort to reduce the stigma surrounging manic depression illness (MDI).  Good idea, but the name is stupid.  There aren't two poles.  There are three primary mood states - depression, mania, and mixed (depressed and manic together).

I have bipolar and prefer MDI.  It is a more accurate label.

PS -  Dixon, your first answerer, is confusing bipolar type I and bipolar type II with MDI and BP.  He's misinformed.