Bipolar depression and clinical depression?

What is the difference?

clinical depression is also Unipolar depression. Bipolar means it has a second pole which is mania. Is also called manic depression. Is periods of depression alterntating with periods of mania and "normal" periods. Episodes lasting weeks, months, even years (not swinging back and forth with in a day like many people think)

They are the same, although people with bipolar disorder also have manic or mixed (mania and depression at the same time) episodes. But a person with major depression who is depressed and a person with bipolar disorder who is depressed have the same symptoms.

Giving anti-depressant medication to people with bipolar disorder is tricky, because if you give them too much they switch into mania or a mixed episode. Bipolar depression is harder to treat.

Contrary to what J G said bipolar episodes do not last for years. Perhaps he/she is thinking of someone dependent on drugs or alcohol. As J G said clinical depression follows the unipolar line according to the criteria set forth by the DSM-IV. Bipolar depression is not chronic and in many cases more severe because it typically follows a hypomanic or manic episode. Going from feeling great and together straight down to wishing death would take you can be crushing.