Due to the lack of knowledge that exists about mental health and the different disorders that exist, it is possible to confuse names or assume that two disorders, which in reality are completely different, are the same.
This may be the case of bipolar affective disorder and dissociative disorder, although we may think that they are very similar or even the same, this is not the case.
Characteristics of bipolar affective disorder and dissociative disorder
Bipolar affective disorder
Dissociative disorder
It is characterized by a extreme oscillation between very low moods (depression) to very high moods (mania or hypomania).
They are characterized by being conditions in which the person “disconnects” from reality in an extreme way, it can be for short periods or for prolonged periods.
Many times it is experienced as moments of unreality, of a failure in the perception of the environment and of oneself, “as if it were not there, as if it were gone”. In this case, the consumption of a substance or medication is not the cause of its occurrence.
Similarity:
Something they have in common is that Cyclical mood changes can be very similar in both types of disorders. Episodes of mania and hypomania, in extreme cases, can be very similar to an episode of dissociation of the person, being very similar to the extent that Both may show behaviors that are out of the ordinary and socially accepted, self-harming behaviors or even high-risk behaviors.
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Differences:
Here there is a first difference: in a dissociative disorder, memory is quite affected in these episodes, something that does not happen in bipolar disorder.
Another notable difference lies in the causes and treatmentin it bipolar disorder there is strong evidence that there appears to be a genetic component quite marked associated with an important neurochemical imbalance, otherwise in the dissociative disorderwhich seems to be a lot more related to significant psychological trauma experiences in the person’s life history.
Treatment:
A treatment with mood stabilizers, antidepressants and antipsychotics responds quite well in bipolar disorder; However, in a dissociative disorder they do not seem to have a beneficial effect for the user.
We remind you that to issue a mental health diagnosis it is necessary to consult with a professional in the field and avoid resorting to and much less to