What is bipolar and unipolar?

Answer 1

It's in the word. Bi = two, so bipolar means two poles. In the case of Bipolar disorder, these are depression and mania/hypomania. Uni = one, so unipolar means one pole. Unipolar is generally used to describe depression on its own, without mania.

Answer 2

"unipolar means one polar, so you have one side, either happy or depressed, and bipolar is when you change between the two"




Actually, as it relates to mental health, Unipolar disorder (also known as major depression) refers to the low end of the spectrum only (depression only). Bipolar disorder is used to refer to conditions of either only mania (elevated mood) or to the condition of depression with the occurrence of one or more episodes of mania. Mania, in this sense, refers to the occurrence of an abnormal and persistent elevated, expansive, or irritable mood (the elevated mood of mania may be euphoric or unusually cheerful often with unceasing and indiscriminate enthusiasm for occupational, sexual, or interpersonal interactions). The alternation between euphoria and irritability is also common.


Unipolar mania is a term sometimes used to describe only the presence of a manic condition without the presence of a depressive episode.

Unipolar disorder (the most common use of "unipolar") refers to major depression only.

Answer 3

The difference between bipolar and unipolar:

Bipolar: Alternating between deep depression and extreme elation

Unipolar: Major depressive episode that occurs without the manic phase

I know this is pretty basic if you need further information I'd be happy to help!

Answer 4

Bipolar disorder is when a person has high energy periods called hypomania, mania and at other times the person has low energy periods called depression. When the person has only one of the two, like depression it is unipolar,