Manic Depression and Bipolar Disorder

What is manic depression?

Manic depression, also known as bipolar disorder, is classified as a type of affective disorder or mood disorder that goes beyond ordinary ups and downs of the day, and is a serious medical illness and a major health problem in this country. Manic depression is characterized by periodic episodes of extreme elation, elevated mood, or irritability (also called mania) countered by periodic, classic depressive symptoms.

Depression is a mood disorder that involves a person’s body, mood and thoughts. It can affect and impair eating, sleeping, or thinking patterns, and is not the same as being unhappy or in a “blue”, nor is it a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be overcome by will or away. People with a depressive illness can not merely “settle down” and get better. Treatment is often necessary and often crucial for recovery.

There are three main types of depression, including:

• – major depression (clinical depression)
• – bipolar disorder (manic depression)
• – dysthymic disorder (dysthymia)

Who is affected by manic depression?

Manic depression affects more than 5.7 million European adults – or about 2.6 percent of people age 18 in a given year. When symptoms are present before the age of 12 years, are often mistaken for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – a syndrome that is usually characterized by serious and persistent difficulties resulting in distraction or inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity.

Affecting men and women equally (although women are more likely to experience more depressive and less manic symptoms), manic depression often begins in adolescence or early adulthood. In fact, the average age of onset is 25.

Manic depression is likely to run in families and in some cases is believed to be hereditary. Researchers are still in intensive research to identify a gene that may be responsible for this disorder.

What are the symptoms of manic depression?

The following are the most common symptoms of manic depression. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently.

Depressive symptoms may include:

• – persistent mood sad, anxious or empty
• – loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed previously
• – excessive crying
• – increased agitation and irritability
• – decreased ability to concentrate and make decisions
• – decreased energy
• – thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
• – increased feelings of guilt, helplessness and / or hopelessness
• – weight and / or appetite changes due to over-or under-eating
• – changes in sleep patterns
• – social withdrawal
• – physical symptoms unrealized by standard treatment (ie, chronic pain, headaches)

Manic symptoms can include:

• – overly inflated self-esteem
• – decreased need for rest and sleep
• – increased irritability, distractibility
• – increased physical agitation
• – excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that may result in painful consequences, which can include behavior, provocative aggressive or destructive
• – increased talkativeness
• – feelings excessive “high” or euphoric
• – increased *** desire
• – energy level increased
• – uncharacteristically poor judgment

Denial increase

For the diagnosis of manic depression to be made, the person must submit the depressive and manic symptoms in varying degrees, depending on the severity of the disease. Symptoms of manic depression may resemble other psychiatric illnesses. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

How is it diagnosed manic-depressive?

Because depression has shown to often co-exist with other medical illnesses such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes, and other psychiatric disorders, such as substance abuse or anxiety disorders, seeking early diagnosis and treatment is crucial to recovery. A diagnosis is often made after a careful psychiatric examination and medical history performed by a psychiatrist or other mental health professional.

Treatment for manic depression

Specific treatment for manic depression will be determined by your physician based on:

• – your age, overall health and medical history
• – extent of disease
• – your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• – expectations for the course of the disease
• – your opinion or preference

Treatment may include any one or a combination of the following:

• – drugs (ie anticonvulsants as mood stabilizers lithium, valproate or carbamazepine, and / or antidepressants such as Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Seroquel)
• – psychotherapy (most often cognitive-behavioral and / or interpersonal therapy that is focused on changing the individual’s distorted views of themselves and the environment around them, working through difficult relationships, and identifying stressors in the environment and how to avoid them)

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Recognizing the varied mood swings and extreme associated with manic depression is crucialto ensure effective treatment and avoid the potentially painful consequences of the reckless behavior maniac.

In most cases, long-term treatment, prevention is required to stabilize mood associated with manic depression.