They can have overlapping features

Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia have some similarities, but they are different disorders.

This article will compare bipolar disorder vs. schizophrenia, including symptoms, causes, and treatment.

These symptoms may look like schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia includes positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms.

Positive symptoms refer to behaviors or thoughts that are not usually present but come up during an episode.

Negative symptoms are when behaviors or thinking patterns that are typically present go away during an episode.

Schizophrenia is characterized by psychosis.

Between 20% and 60% of people with bipolar disorder will experience a psychotic episode.

What Causes Bipolar Disorder vs. Schizophrenia?

Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are each believed to stem from genetic, biological, and environmental causes.

Genetic

There gives the impression of a strong genetic component to both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

These findings support other research suggesting that altered brain connectivity could also be strongly influenced by genes.

Bipolar disorder risk is also related to genetic factors.

Twin studies have shown similar findings for shared diagnoses between identical and nonidentical twins.

Environment

A persons community and environment play a role in the risk of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Its also possible that they lead to brain changes that could be involved in the symptoms of the disorders.

Contributing environmental factors include childhood trauma, social isolation, and substance abuse.

Are Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia Diagnosed in the Same Way?

The exception is if they have started treatment that has successfully managed their symptoms.

A diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder requires symptoms of schizophrenia.

There is some debate about whether schizoaffective disorder should be its own diagnosis.

Some experts believe schizoaffective disorder should be a category of schizophrenia, severe depression, or bipolar disorder.

Treatments for schizophrenia include antipsychotic medications, which are taken daily to prevent symptoms.

Treatments for bipolar disorder includelithiumand other mood stabilizers, usually along with antipsychotic medications.

Counseling can also be an important component of management.

Therapy can help a person learn skills to better manage symptoms and navigate their everyday life.

However, it is not considered a routine treatment for schizophrenia.

The effects of some treatments for these conditions may also contribute to disease risk.

Summary

Both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia spectrum disorders lead to severe distress and relationship challenges.

While these conditions cannot be cured, they can be treated with therapy and medication.

National Institute of Mental Health.Schizophrenia.

APA.Bipolar I and bipolar II disorders.

National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder.

2017;53(1):1-1. doi:10.4068/cmj.2017.53.1.1

APA.What is schizophrenia?.

McCutcheon R, Richard S.E.

Keefe, McGuire P.Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia: aetiology, pathophysiology, and treatment.Molecular Psychiatry.

2023;28(5):1902-1918. doi:10.1038/s41380-023-01949-9

National Institutes of Mental Health.Schizoaffective disorder.

Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health [Internet].

Rockville (MD) (US); 2016 Jun.

Parker G.How well does the DSM-5 capture schizoaffective disorder?.Can J Psychiatry.

2020 Aug;222:382-388. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2020.04.025