People withbipolar disordermay experience mood-congruent or mood-incongruent symptoms of psychosis.
Mood-incongruent means symptoms and mood state are not aligned.
It is a symptom of psychotic disorders and can be present in mood and other psychiatric disorders.
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Depression can consist of prolonged sadness, withdrawal, or lack of pleasure in activities.
Mood-congruent psychotic symptoms are delusions or hallucinations that are in alignment with the persons mood.
Mood-congruence and incongruence are associated with learning, memory, and the speed of information processing.
There is also research supporting individuals processing content more quickly and prioritizing content that aligns with their mood state.
Conversely, beliefs of having committed some unforgivable crime or hearing voices criticizing them can present during depression.
Differences in Schizophrenia
Psychotic symptoms can occur with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
The main features of bipolar disorder are mood episodes characterized by mania, hypomania, or depression.
Meanwhile, delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thoughts and speech are key features of schizophrenia.
Treatment can help people manage shifts in mood or psychotic symptoms that can accompany bipolar disorder.
Medication
Mood stabilizers and antipsychotics may be prescribed to treat bipolar disorder symptoms.
Adherence to medication can help get symptoms to a manageable level for patients and aid in periods of recovery.
If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call911.
Psychotic symptoms can influence a persons ability to function in daily life.
Treatment including talk therapy and medication is available to help people with bipolar disorder manage these symptoms.
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