Medical Conditions That Mimic Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is one of the most complex mental health conditions. There is a lot of confusion and misconceptions about it and what the meaning of bipolar is. But in mental health, getting an accurate diagnosis is crucial. There are many conditions that have similar symptoms, and they might lead to more problems if they are not diagnosed properly.

For bipolar disorder, the hallmark symptom is dramatic mood swings that go from depressive lows to manic highs. However, misdiagnosis is common because its symptoms overlap with various other conditions.

In fact, nearly 70% of bipolar disorder cases are initially misdiagnosed, and some patients can wait years before they are eventually diagnosed properly. We’ll explore the medical conditions that can mimic bipolar disorder—and why accurate diagnosis matters.

Let’s start with one of the most common conditions that is mistaken for bipolar disorder. If you think about it, the comparison makes sense. Depressive episodes are a significant part of bipolar disorder. However, MDD does not have the other part that makes bipolar syndrome bipolar. There are no manic or hypomanic episodes seen in bipolar cases. The patient is in a constant depressive state.

Here is where the mistake comes in. Sometimes, the manic symptoms of bipolar disorder can be subtle and may go unnoticed. The concept is known as hypomania and it is responsible for a misdiagnosis of unipolar depression. This misdiagnosis will more often than not result in treatments with only antidepressants that will worsen the manic symptoms in bipolar patients.

Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are very distinct conditions. However, they share overlapping symptoms. The intercept is in symptoms like hallucinations and reduced social engagement.

Conversely, schizoaffective disorder is a hybrid of schizophrenia and mood disorders. It often looks strikingly similar to bipolar disorder because of its episodes of psychosis and mood instability. The main difference is that schizophrenia is primarily a disorder of perception and reality, while bipolar disorder is rooted in mood swings.

ADHD is a condition where a person has trouble concentrating on a particular task for an extended period of time. Its symptoms include restlessness, impulsivity, and difficulty concentrating.

But these symptoms also show up in the manic phase of bipolar disorder. However, ADHD primarily affects behavior and attention, and bipolar disorder is a mood disorder. The emotional highs and lows characteristic of bipolar disorder set it apart. However, there are still surface similarities that make it hard to tell who is who.

A borderline personality disorder is another commonly misdiagnosed condition. It causes symptoms such as impulsivity, mood swings, and unstable relationships. And again, this seems like it can be bipolar disorder. However, the key difference is in the nature of the mood changes.

In bipolar disorder, mood swings tend to follow a cyclical pattern. This means they go from one extreme to another without any particular reason. Meanwhile, in borderline disorder, emotional instability is often triggered by external events and is more constant.

PMDD is a form of premenstrual syndrome, but it is worse than regular PMS. PMDD is characterized by mood swings, irritability, and severe depression that happens in the week before menstruation. Like bipolar disorder, PMDD also shows cyclical mood changes. However, PMDD symptoms resolve once menstruation begins.

Misdiagnosis can and will always lead to ineffective or even harmful treatments. For example, treating a bipolar patient with antidepressants alone will trigger manic episodes and worsen the condition.

For an accurate diagnosis, you need to be honest and open with healthcare providers. Share all the details about your mood, habits, and family history. Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all diagnostic test.

NuLife Behavioral Health knows how important an accurate diagnosis is. We also have the resources to treat conditions that might not actually be bipolar disorder. Substance abuse, depression, anxiety, and others are a part of our focus.

Simply put, we are comprehensive with our care. So, If you or a loved one is struggling with any mental health or addiction condition, reach out to NuLife Behavioral Health today.