Agitation often occurs alongside depression, but it can also be a feature of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, and other conditions — some of which can also involve depression.
Agitation can also occur with substance abuse disorder, personality disorder, autism, and other conditions.
A 2018 studyTrusted Source looked at data for 583 people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder who also experienced agitation.
Of these people, over half reported feeling:
uneasy
restless
nervous
tense
unable to sit still
People also reported feeling:
irritable
short tempered
fidgety
wound up
over excited
In fewer than 20% of cases, people said they had felt:
hostile
uncooperative
lacking in control
Less commonly, they reported feeling aggressive or violent.
Symptoms ranged from mild to severe. Around half of the participants said they had visited a hospital in the previous year due to agitation.
In total, 71% were aware when they were becoming agitated, and 61% knew what their triggers were. Most said that they knew what to do to control their agitation, but around 16% felt that there was nothing they could do.
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder has many features, but one of the key symptoms is mood changes. Agitation, or agitated depression, may have links with this condition.
Bipolar disorder can involve fluctuations between a low and high mood, but mixed statesTrusted Source are also possible. Some people experience hypomania, a high mood that is less extreme than mania.
Agitation is a common feature of hypomania.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia involves disorganized thinking, agitated movements, delusions, and in some cases, hallucinations.
Agitation can also be a feature of schizophrenia. It is often related to symptoms of the condition, such as disturbing auditory hallucinations.
Learn more about the symptoms of schizophrenia here.