unipolar depression

noun

: psychological depression not accompanied by mania

specifically : major depressive disorder

Providers should ask whether the patient has a history of bipolar disorder, or manic depression, which may be misdiagnosed as unipolar depression.

—Jurgen Unutzer

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

unipolar depression

noun

: psychological depression not accompanied by mania

specifically : major depressive disorder

Providers should ask whether the patient has a history of bipolar disorder, or manic depression, which may be misdiagnosed as unipolar depression

—Jurgen Unutzer, New England Journal of Medicine