All About Bipolar and Schizophrenia. Do They Differ?

February 3, 2026 5

Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are mental health conditions that have some common traits and some key differences. Differences include the symptoms a person experiences.

Bipolar disorder causes shifts in mood, energy level, and thinking. Schizophrenia causes a person to appear to lose touch with reality.

People with bipolar disorder may experience episodes of mania and depression, often with periods of relative stability occurring in between.

Individuals with schizophrenia experience symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations or delusions. Some people with bipolar disorder also experience symptoms of psychosis.

Because of the overlap in symptoms, getting the right diagnosis can be challenging. Also, a person can have both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, which can complicate the diagnosis.

Some people have schizoaffective disorder, which involves a combination of schizophrenia symptoms and mood disorder symptoms.

In this article, we look at the similarities and differences between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. We also discuss methods of diagnosis and options for treatment.

Symptoms of bipolar disorder

The symptoms of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia vary and can differ in type and severity. They may get worse and then significantly improve or go into remission for a period of time.

People with bipolar disorder frequently experience extremes in mood. Healthcare professionals may classify “highs” as mania or, in less severe cases, hypomania. “Lows” involve a decrease in mood and, often, depression.

There are three main types of bipolar disorder, although some people have a different arrangement of symptoms:

Bipolar I: The most intense type. It features episodes of mania and depression that can last at least 1 or 2 weeks at a time. In some cases, a person can experience both states simultaneously.
Bipolar II: This slightly less intense form involves major depression that can last for weeks, as well as bouts of hypomania that may last several days or more. The two may alternate rapidly or have stretches of time in between them.
Cyclothymia: This features alternating periods of lower grade depression and hypomania that can last weeks. It may also involve emotional dysregulation and anxious, impulsive, reactive behavior, according to a 2023 study, Mood changes are less dramatic but are never stable for more than 2 months.

All three conditions may include periods of stability.

Symptoms of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia symptoms affect a person’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. They include:

Delusions: These are false beliefs, and most people with schizophrenia experience them. For example, people may think that they are famous or special in a certain way, that they are being harassed or stalked, or that something terrible is about to happen.
Hallucinations: During a hallucination, people see, hear, feel, taste, or smell things that are not there. The most common type of hallucination involves hearing voices.
Disorganized thinking and speech: People exhibiting these symptoms may not make sense when communicating with others. They may give unrelated answers to questions, or their sentences may seem meaningless to the people around them.
Unusual behavior: People with schizophrenia can demonstrate unpredictable behavior. For example, they may act childlike, assume strange postures, or move constantly.
Inability to function as usual: Schizophrenia can affect a person’s ability to take care of their personal hygiene, engage with others in socially acceptable ways, or perform everyday activities.

Overlapping symptoms

The following symptoms may occur in either bipolar disorder or schizophrenia:

Episodes of psychosis: For some people with bipolar disorder, an episode of mania or depression can give rise to hallucinations or delusions.
Disorganized thinking: This is common among people living with schizophrenia, but people with bipolar disorder may also seem to have disorganized thoughts. During episodes of mania, a person may have difficulty concentrating on a single idea or task.
Symptoms of depression: During periods of depression, people with either condition may demonstrate a loss of interest in things they once enjoyed. Some people may feel like they cannot experience pleasure or may have trouble concentrating or making decisions.
Substance use disorders: Some researchers report high rates of drug and alcohol misuse among people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression. If a person has significant symptom overlap, they may receive a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, a related but separate mental health condition.
Prevalence: Bipolar disorder is more common than schizophrenia. Bipolar disorder affected about 40 million people worldwide in 2019, while 24 million people — about 1 in 300 adults — were living with schizophrenia at that time.

Symptoms of bipolar disorder usually start to appear around the age of 25 and the condition affects males and females equally.

The NIMH notes that it is difficult to know precisely how many people live with schizophrenia because the diagnosis is complex and symptoms overlap with those of other conditions. In addition, diagnostic criteria vary. Some figures suggest that schizophrenia affects less than 1% of the U.S. population, while advocacy groups say it could be 1.6% or more.

Written by Jayne Leonard.

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Written by: Mike Stroud

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