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Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mood disorder characterized by extreme moods of mania and depression. It can be severely debilitating and disrupt the lives of people around the patient. Treatment approaches include psychotherapy, medication, shock therapy, and hospitalization. The causes are not fully understood, but there may be a genetic component. Early diagnosis and treatment are important.
Manic depression, more properly known as bipolar disorder, is a mood disorder characterized by extreme moods. People with manic depression go through periods of high mood known as mania, as well as periods of depression. This condition can be severely debilitating or even life threatening and can disrupt the lives of people around the patient. There are a number of treatment approaches for manic depression, and there is no reason to suffer from the condition without help.
People with bipolar disorder may experience periods of depression and mania in which they are very energetic, enthusiastic and optimistic, or hypomania, a slightly more subdued form of classic mania. These bouts can last for days or weeks and be followed by a period of normal behavior or a plunge into depression. When patients switch rapidly back and forth between mania and depression, they are said to have “rapid cycling” bipolar disorder. Patients can also experience a mixed form of manic depression, where they feel both extremes simultaneously.
Like other mood disorders, there is no simple test for manic depression, and many people go undiagnosed. Diagnosis is based on a series of interviews with a mental health professional who can discuss the situation with the patient and arrive at a diagnosis. Someone with bipolar I has experienced at least one episode of mania, while individuals with bipolar II have demonstrated hypomania and depression. Cyclothymia involves a less severe cycle between hypomania and mild depression.
Psychotherapy can sometimes help people deal with manic depression, as it can provide coping and management skills to deal with extreme moods. Some people also take medications designed to regulate brain chemistry, as imbalances in the brain are thought to be responsible for manic depression. Shock therapy has also been effective for some patients, along with alternative medical approaches such as acupuncture. Some patients may opt for hospitalization or be admitted by a doctor concerned about their well-being, usually with the aim of a temporary stay that allows the patient to regain balance.
The causes of manic depression are not fully understood. The condition usually emerges in the patient’s adolescence and can be caused by intense life experiences or drug and alcohol abuse, but not always. There may be a genetic component, as people from families with a history of mood disorders are more likely to develop manic depression.
People experiencing psychological symptoms should consider getting help, even if the symptoms are not severe or debilitating. Conditions like manic depression can get worse if not addressed, and early diagnosis can help a patient get the problem under control.
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