Which Mental Illness is Worse : Schizophrenia or Bi-Polar Disorder ?

Question

I went to a seminar on Saturday and the facility's director made a five minute lecture on why Schizophrenia was the most serious of all mental illneses. I tried to get a word in edgewise, but she talked fast and hard.
I believe that any serious mental illness cannot be any more serious than any other ..... all are debilitating. I certainly know that Bi-Polar Disorder can present psychotically, so it would have the very same symptoms as Schizophrenia.
I have known Schizophrenics who were totally out of touch with the world, but I also have known many people with Bi-Polar Disorder who have been delusional enough to believe they could do such things as fly (like Superman) off a building.
Both illnesses have periods of paranoia, and perhaps some people have a less severe form of one of the diseases, or maybe one is on correct medications and one is not.
But, I want to know if I am incorrect. Is Schizophrenia more serious than Bi-Polar Disorder (Manic Depression) ?

Answer 1

Neither one can be considered "worse" than the other since both Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder have varying degrees of severity. Some people may think Schizophrenia is worse because, by definition, it always includes psychotic symptoms at some point in the illness. Psychotic symptoms are generally pretty disabling. However, severe mood symptoms can be just as disabling. Another reason is many people with Schizophrenia tend to have some symptoms of the illness continuously whereas many people with Bipolar Disorder have episodic periods of illness with intervening periods of normality. But then there are some people who have severe, rapid-cycling, psychotic forms of Bipolar Disorder who are ill most of the time and people with Schizophrenia who show little or no symptomatology between episodes of illness. So I don't think one can be considered worse than the other. It all depends on the course and severity of each individual person's illness. There is also considerable debate on how truly separate these two illnesses are. Most people will fit clearly into the bipolar or schizophrenia category. However there are many people who show significant symptoms of both and are very difficult to diagnose. There are enough of these patients for the APA to devise the diagnostic category of Schizoaffective Disorder. Also (I'm sorry for going on so long) the type of Schizophrenia is important. The disorganized type tends to be the most severe and disabling of the Schizophrenias.

Answer 2

This is one of those Questions where one tries to to figure out which is Bad & which is Worse... And based on what I've read & observed- it's probably pretty close to being a toss-up. Inititially- I would've suggested that Schizophrenia was the more dibilitating of the two maladies- if only because there was so much more Negative information about it. But as Bi-Polar Disorder has become better understood, the line of "Seriousness" between the two mental illnesses- has become increasingly "blurred..." The Reality IS, they're BOTH very complicated & serious mental illnesses- to the extent that NOBODY should want to be afflicted by Either!

Answer 3

I'd say your mom was joking (especially since Schizophrenia usually gets joked at about being like multiple personalities...which it isnt). THe increased anger and irritability...it could be stress and depression, or it could be a manic or mixed episode, it's ahrd to tell. Eitherway, getting yourself help and treatment definatly WOULD NOT hurt your future, especially if it is something you can manage and then potentially put behind you with some dedicated work. Not getting yourself any help will make it more likely that these symptoms will continue to get worse and will hurt your career more than getting help and making sure you're mentally healthy would.

Answer 4

Hi...Schizophrenia or Bi Polar Disorder...the following site may help you to make an informed decision...but let me state one thing...any mental illness which is not addressed is horrible and stigmas are still entrenched in this society...medication can help but so can staying away from certain drugs and intoxicants...therapy can help but not to the exclusion of other modalities...
http://www.nami.org/
This site addresses the issues contained in your question

Answer 5

Both bipolar and shizophrenia can experience hallucinations and delusions. Some people can have mild cases of the diseases and you would never know they are ill. They take medications and those work very well....and then there is others who have severe cases of the illness and they are not able to function as well. I know that for shizophrenia antipsychotic is prescribed. And for bipolar.. its antidepressant , antipsychotic and a mood stabilizer ! So in terms of medications, bipolar is a serious cocktail of meds.

Answer 6

Which of the two,Schizophrenia, or Bi-polar, Disease is worse? I would say that Schizophrenia, the worse than Bi-polar, because the Schizo,is more Viloent than the Bi-polar, and you do not know how they are going to react, even in a simple question. I have a Nephew who has Schizo, and when he is under control with medication he can hold an Intelligent conversation with anyone, but other Days he can be a very violent person, when he thinks you are looking at him, and he imagines you are saying bad things about him.

Answer 7

I am a mental health professional and can tell you unequivocally that schizophrenia is worse, it's the most severe of all mental illness. Bipolar disorder can also be very debilitating, but not to the extent of schizophrenia. Those with schizophrenia, tend to have a life time disease which worsens throughtout their life. They withdraw from society, and can essentially no longer function in society. Those with bipolar have episodes of crippling disease, but there are periods of normality, where that individual can function quite well.

Answer 8

i think which is worse would depend on the degree that the person is suffering at the time..i can think of many reason why both are horrible
also there is a form of schizo affect where the person is both bi polar and schizophrenic so if i had to make a distinction i would say that person has the worst of both worlds

ADDED: my husband wants to give his opinion also and he says the one that is untreated would be the one that is worse off because the untreated person tends to suffer all the time (and is most likely unknowing of what is going on thus being stuck in chaos) whereas the treated one has more periods of being stable

Answer 9

I would have to say Schizophrenia.Unfortunately my nephew was diagnosed with it.
I know some people afflicted with Bi-Polar disorder.
Between the two,in my opinion Schizophrenia wins hands down.
I have seen my nephew apologising to a bunch of ants he accidentally stepped on.He is heavily medicated.If he forgets the medication then he has violent episodes.He is only 22 yrs old and it breaks my heart to see his life just being wasted.The human mind can become a prison when it malfunctions and there is no known cure for it I am told.

Answer 10

Why, really is it important to know such information? Both disorders are serious and both need to be treated by medications and by using TLC. Both need to be approached by medical staff with the optimistic view that treating them will result in improvement and possibly cure. I am a schizophrenic paranoid (DDD) and one of my pet peeves is the idea that the disease is permanent, incurable and those with it abandoned to become "out of the picture" as a functioning member of society.

Good luck with your research, good mental health, peace and Love!

P.S. I have also suffered from suicidal depression in my lifetime. Depression, to me, is the most horrible of emotions. It leaves you incapacitated and can kill one through suicide. Voices are even a little bit entertaining if you don't take them seriously.
MM