Differentiating bipolar and unipolar depressions

The depressive episodes in bipolar disorders are similar to those seen in unipolar depressive disorders. Many experts in the field feel that they are quantitative differences in the episodes experienced by bipolar patients; researchers have attempted to find this difference albeit it elusive.

Although the data is inconsistent and controversial, some clinicians report that the depressed patients who we prospectively diagnose as Bipolar tend to have hypersomnia, psychomotor retardation, psychotic symptoms, a history of postpartum episodes, a family history of bipolar type I disorder, and a history of anti-depressant induced hypomania.