The main difficulty in diagnosing Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) versus Bipolar Disorder (BD) is the need to identify the unipolar or bipolar nature of the disorder. McIntyre et al. note that the following factors are important to consider: “clinical presentation, number of episodes and the age at which they occurred, illness severity, sleep history and habits, and grandiosity.”
The researchers also note that patients and their families are not reliable sources of information. They may present data that is associated with bipolar disorder instead of objective observations. Additionally, family history and hereditary diseases can often be vague.
Psychiatrists also note that in the diagnosis, it is helpful to assess the manifestations of psychopathy and the existing deterioration in the motor functions of patients. Thus, it is important to consider clinical presentations, evidence from the patient’s earlier age, family history, and patient and family descriptions of the disorder in order to make a difference in the diagnosis of MDD versus BD.
To achieve the best treatment outcomes in both MDD and BD, it is important to make the most accurate diagnosis and start timely treatment. The researchers note that the main predictor of successful treatment of disorders is a short period of non-treatment of the disease. Treatment delay has a significant negative impact on the outcome of the treatment of disorders.
Additionally, the presence of stressful events in the patient’s life can lead to worse outcomes. The presence of various physical and psychological comorbidities is a negative variable as well. A significant factor is also the presence of bad habits, including smoking, drinking alcohol, or drug abuse.