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Types of Depression.

Clinical | Chronic | Manic / Bipolar

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Manic / Bipolar Depression.

Manic Depression is also called Bipolar Depression, Bipolar Disorder, or Manic-Depressive Disease. More than two million Americans adults, or one percent of the population, are affected by manic depression. It is a mental illness which is characterized by exaggerated or severe high and low moods. The word "bipolar" refers to the two "poles of mood," the highs and the lows. Those that suffer from this condition will experience alternating days or weeks of the lows of depression with the extreme highs of elation (mania). In addition, individuals with manic depression can experience normal moods between episodes of high and low mood swings.

"Manic" or mania (manic depression) refers to the period when a sufferer is experiencing a high mood. It can be described as overly happy and joyful, overly excited, extreme self-confidence, unreasonably grandiose thoughts, and sometimes inappropriate or destructive actions. Sometimes a sufferer can become psychotic - seeing and hearing hallucinations and / or believing things that are obviously false or illogical. In some cases the patients view themselves as superhuman beings with super powers.

"Depression" refers to the period when a sufferer is experiencing a low mood or sadness. The symptoms of these low moods are similar to the symptoms of clinical depression. Because of the similarity of these symptoms, sometimes patients are misdiagnosed as having clinical depression when in fact they have manic or bipolar depression.

Symptoms of Mania

There is no fixed pattern to the fluctuations between the highs and lows of manic depression. Sometimes a patient can experience multiple consecutive highs without a depressive low. Or the reverse could be true - multiple consecutive lows without a high mood. Time periods for mood swings can vary from weeks and months to even years. The severity of the mood swings will vary from patient to patient and can vary with the same patient at different times. Patients that have four or more mood changes in a year are "rapid cycling" and are more difficult to treat. The following symptoms are the most common in manic depression.

• alcohol and drug abuse
• impulsive
• exhibiting poor judgement
• strong sex drive
• overly energetic
• less need for sleep
• creating unrealistic goals
• rapid speech
• lack of concentration
• restlessness

What causes Manic / Bipolar Depression ?

The experts do not know exactly what causes this mental disorder. Many researchers believe that a combination of risk factors can trigger episodes of bipolar depression. These risk factors are similar to risk factors for other forms of depression. They include biological, genetic, environmental and psychological causes.

However, another theory to explain the causation of manic depression is built around the differences in the chemical messengers between nerve cells in the brain (neurotransmitters). Many people with bipolar disorder have measurable differences in neurotransmitters. Some researchers think that this abnormality may be genetic because a family history of manic depression exists in approximately 60% of the patients with this mental disorder.

Treatment

In general, doctors use standard techniques to treat Manic / Bipolar Depression. This includes medication, psychotherapy, and occasionally, electroconvulsive therapy. Because of the long term nature of this mood disorder, patients require treatment for their entire lives.

The medications prescribed for bipolar disorder fall into four general categories, mood regulators, anti-seizure medications which are also used to regulate mood, antidepressants, and antipsychotic. Unfortunately, some of them can have significant side-effects or risks. Patients should always follow their doctor's instructions. The primary drugs for this disorder are in the table below.

Self-Care

Individuals with manic depression can assist in their treatment programs. They should:

• take medications on schedule.
• notice any warning signs of any mood change.
• avoid alcohol and drugs.
• check with their doctor before taking other medications.

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