manic depression?

Question

manic depression?

Answer 1

Means there bi-polar. In other words, highs and lows. One minute there laughing and the next they are crying.



Malnutrition is a common cause. Doing drugs, eating unhealthy. Have been abused mentally or physical.



Manic episode: A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with 3 or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, or for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, 4 additional symptoms must be present.





Depressive episode: A depressive episode is diagnosed if 5 or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, or for a period of 2 weeks or longer.



The Bird Dr.

Answer 2

Manic Depression is also known as bipolar disorder here is some information that should answer all your questions:



What is bipolar disorder?



Bipolar disorder (also called manic-depressive disorder) is an illness that causes extreme mood changes that alternate between manic episodes of abnormally high energy and the extreme lows of depression.



Bipolar disorder may cause behavior so severe that you may not be able to function at work, in family or social situations, or in relationships with others. Some people with bipolar disorder become suicidal.



What causes bipolar disorder?



The cause of bipolar disorder is not completely understood, but the disorder runs in families and may also be affected by your living environment or family situation. An imbalance of chemicals in the brain is another possible cause.



What are the symptoms?



During a manic episode, you may be abnormally happy, energetic, or irritable for a week or more. You may spend a lot of money, get involved in dangerous activities, and sleep very little. After a manic episode, you may return to normal, but your mood may swing in the opposite direction to feelings of sadness, depression, and hopelessness. When you are depressed, you may have trouble concentrating, remembering, and making decisions; have changes in your eating and sleeping habits; and lose interest in things you once enjoyed.



The mood changes of bipolar disorder can be mild or extreme. They may develop gradually over several days or weeks, or come on suddenly within minutes or hours. The manic or depressive episodes may only last a few hours or for several months.



How is bipolar disorder diagnosed?



Because it has many phases and symptoms, bipolar disorder is complex and hard to diagnose. There are no lab tests for bipolar disorder; instead your doctor or therapist will ask detailed questions about what kind of symptoms you have and how long they last. In order to be diagnosed as bipolar, you must have had a manic episode lasting at least a week (less if you had to be hospitalized). During this time, you must have had three or more specific symptoms of mania, such as needing less sleep, being more talkative, behaving wildly or irresponsibly in activities that could have serious outcomes, or feeling as if your thoughts are racing.



Your urine and blood may be tested to rule out other problems that could be causing your symptoms.



How is it treated?



Bipolar disorder is mainly treated with medications to manage manic episodes and periods of depression. Your doctor may try several medications before finding the right combination to manage your symptoms long-term. Medications include mood stabilizers and antipsychotics. Antidepressants are used carefully for episodes of depression, because they cause some people to cycle into a manic phase.



Counseling for you and your and family is also an important treatment for bipolar disorder.



People with extreme cases of mania may be hospitalized to protect them from risky behaviors, such as driving recklessly or having delusions. During a severe bout of depression, hospitalization may be necessary to prevent the person from committing suicide.

Answer 3

Hi Ive had bad depression, and its not very nice "manic depression" can get you suicidal, you want to stay in bed and not see any of the world, no-one and nothing can cheer you up, the slightest thing can also trigger it off or put you on a big downer. If its for you get well soon.xxxxxxxxxXXXX

Answer 4

I know someone who has who is a close relative. I would not say that means that all relatives suffer from the same illnesses, as they said it can be due to chemical, or environmental issues. I must admit it made me worried for a long time that I would suffer the same fate.

Also because of ignorance people can be very cruel, even friends and relatives. It is not necessarily the persons who is sicks fault and because of the stigma attached it can cayse families to be divided.

Answer 5

most of the answers are correct,but manic depression or bi-polar affected disorder goes right across the spectrum of feelings.some people are more depressive than manic,.some manic than depressive either way it can cause great disturbance to the person and their nearest and dearest,also the condition can vary in its strenght,some expierience mild changes in mood others extreme,seek help but a word of caution most gp,s are ill imformed or ignorant to the illness ask to be referred,good luck

Answer 6

Hello, millions of people suffer from this. Its also called bipolar disorder, and I've had it for years. You're probably best to do a search on google for it, but it involves cycles of "ups" and "downs" in your moods that aren't really normal when compared to other people. For some, you "cycle" daily, some only a couple times a year. I'm on medication to keep centered, and it absolutely helps.

Answer 7

The modern term is Bipolar Disorder. Characterized with extreme mood swings; from very active and "high" followed by extreme depressive "crash". Check out the DSM manual.

Answer 8

A manic depressive is someone that has extreme highs and extreme lows.

Answer 9

Its extreme moods high and low like gettting very depressed and overcompensating for this and getting high happy like on the go excited and then mood dropping down.

Answer 10

I do, It's hard to explain. This sight doesn't quite hit the nail on the head but. Start here honey



Most people have moods that swing from sadness to happiness. In the person who suffers from manic depression, these moods swings are greatly exaggerated. There are two features to this disorder. The depressive phase often arises out of the blue and with no obvious cause. The depression is quite profound and often associated with guilt feelings which centre on something that may have happened in the past. The person's judgement is impaired and so he does not believe himself to be ill. The manic phase is often the opposite of the depressive phase. The patient becomes elated and has far more energy than normal. He often stays up all night, not because he can't sleep but because he has so much to do. He is very talkative and speaks fast. He often has several ideas but often loses his train of thought. He has great optimism and blind faith and enormous self-confidence, sometimes believing himself capable of irrational deeds. This belief in himself can lead to spending a great deal of money on impractical projects. He is less inhibited and sometimes remarks made can offend or hurt relatives or friends. He does not appear to recognise that he is ill or that his behaviour is irrational. If challenged about this he can often become impatient, irritable and angry. Some sufferers have both manic and depressive illnesses at different times, while others just have a manic phase. The phases may last for weeks or months and there is a tendency for them to recur and become more frequent with age.



How does Manic Depression occur ?

The cause of this condition is not known. Some people think that the underlying illness is depression and that the manic phase is purely a defensive reaction against the depression. Others believe that there is an undiscovered chemical cause for this disorder. Hereditary factors may play a part and it can certainly run in families.



Why does Manic Depression occur ?

It is not clear why the disorder may have been brought on. Sometimes there is an obvious external trigger such as disappointment, or stress at work.



Treatment Involved for Manic Depression

Sometimes admission to hospital is considered necessary. In milder cases, treatment may be started at home. Treatment is mainly in the form of drugs. In the depressive phase, antidepressants are used. The main drugs used here are known as tricyclic antidepressants. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is used occasionally when the depression is very severe and when there has been no response to drugs. In the manic phase, a group of drugs known as the major tranquillizers or neuroleptic drugs are particularly useful. These drugs are often used in the short term to calm the agitated person. Examples of these are chlorpromazine and haloperidol. Lithium (Priadel) is particularly useful in manic depression. This drug appears to lower mood in the manic phase and lessens the frequency and extent of the mood swings. It is therefore more often used to prevent further recurrences.



During Treatment for Manic Depression

Although side-effects are common with antidepressant drugs, they are not usually too troublesome. They consist mainly of drowsiness, blurred vision, dry mouth and constipation. These tend to decrease after a few days of starting the medication. The major tranquillizers can also cause excessive drowsiness and sedation. They can also cause trembling, restlessness and uncontrollable movements. These resemble the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Sometimes severe muscle spasms or cramps can occur. These particular side-effects can be controlled and prevented by giving anticholinergic drugs at the same time. They reduce the action of a substance in the brain called acetylcholine. The commonest drug used in this group is procyclidine, which may be taken by mouth or by injection. Anticholinergic drugs can cause dryness of the mouth and blurring of vision. Lithium has the potential for side-effects and therefore its dose is usually monitored by regular blood tests to measure the amount of the drug in the blood. If the dose is not carefully maintained, side-effects such as trembling, nausea, diarrhoea, speech difficulties and unsteadiness can occur. Lithium can produce an unusual condition of excessive urination and thirst. It may also affect the function of the thyroid gland, reducing its activity.



If Manic Depression is Left Untreated

Although there is a natural tendency for this condition to get better, the consequences that arise out of the behaviour of the patient may be serious. In the manic phase, it is possible that behaviour may lead to serious financial and marital problems which may be difficult to reverse. Furthermore, there is a potential risk of attempted suicide in the depressive phase. It is therefore recommended that help is sought early.



Effects on Family of Manic Depression

This is a very distressing condition for relatives and friends. The depressive phase can obviously be very worrying and the irrational behaviour in the manic phase can sour relationships, exhaust the family and lead to serious financial concerns. Family and friends have an enormous role to play in the treatment of these sufferers and will need to work closely with the doctors. Sadly, the patient may refuse treatment either in the form of medication or admission to hospital. Tactful advice may be more acceptable from relatives than from a doctor. Sometimes the behaviour of the manic depressive becomes so worrying that compulsory admission to hospital may be required.

Answer 11

maijn depression is someone who gernally suufers frim dpressed they can be severly depressed and be really happy the next basically trwatament included counseilling pills etc you can go to a websote called www.sane.co.uk or the samaritans websoite called www.samaritans.co.uk

Answer 12

i work in foresic mental health if you go onto google and put it in then it should come up with the answer for you coz there is all different tipes

Answer 13

one day you're on top of the world the next you're extremely depressed

It is also known as bi-polar

Answer 14

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/TheOpenDoorForsupport/

Answer 15

my mate has it!!



she gets weird and paranoid at times !!



shes a really nice girl tho

Answer 16

i have it.johnylaw suspended's answer is better than i can answer.

Answer 17

SONG BY HENDRIX?

Answer 18

I think it's referred to as Bipolar disorder now. It's a more apt description of the high's and low's people with this disorder feel. My mom had it when I was growing up, but I'll give you the text book definition.



Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric condition defined as recurrent episodes of significant disturbance in mood. These disturbances can occur on a spectrum that ranges from debilitating depression to unbridled mania. Individuals suffering from bipolar disorder typically experience fluid states of mania, hypomania or what is referred to as a mixed state in conjunction with depressive episodes. These clinical states typically alternate with a normal range of mood. The disorder has been subdivided into Bipolar I, Bipolar II and cyclothymia, with both Bipolar I and Bipolar II potentially presenting with rapid cycling.



Also called Bipolar Affective Disorder until recently, the current name is of fairly recent origin and refers to the cycling between high and low episodes; it has replaced the older term Manic-depressive Illness coined by Emil Kraepelin (1856-1926) in the late 19th century.[3]



Onset of symptoms generally occurs in young adulthood. Diagnosis is based on the person's self-reported experiences, as well as observed behavior. Episodes of illness are associated with distress and disruption, and a relatively high risk of suicide.[1] Studies suggest that genetics, early environment, neurobiology, and psychological and social processes are important contributory factors. Current psychiatric research is focused on the role of neurobiology, but a clear organic cause has not been found. Bipolar disorder is usually treated with medications and/or therapy or counseling. The mainstay of medication are a number of drugs termed 'mood stabilizers', in particular lithium and sodium valproate ; these are a group of unrelated medications used to prevent relapses of further episodes. Neuroleptic medications, also termed 'antipsychotics', in particular olanzapine, are used in the treatment of manic episodes and in maintenance. The benefits of using antidepressants in depressive episodes is unclear. In serious cases where there is risk to self and others involuntary hospitalization may be necessary; these generally involve severe manic episodes with dangerous behaviour or depressive episodes with suicidal ideation. Hospital stays are less frequent and for shorter periods than they were in previous years.



Some studies have suggested a significant correlation between creativity and bipolar disorder. However, the relationship between the disorder and creativity is still very unclear.[2][3][4] One study indicated increased striving for, and sometimes obtaining, goals and achievements.[5]



Bipolar disorder is a cyclic illness where people periodically exhibit elevated (Manic) and depressive episodes. Most people will experience a number of episodes, averaging 0.4 to 0.7 a year with each lasting 3-6 months.[13][14] Late adolescence and early adulthood are peak years for the onset of the illness.[15][16] These are critical periods in a young adult's social and vocational development, and they can be severely disrupted by disease onset.





Classification

Bipolar disorder is commonly categorized as either Bipolar Type I, where an individual experiences full-blown mania, or Bipolar Type II, in which the hypomanic "highs" do not go to the extremes of mania. The latter is much more difficult to diagnose, since the hypomanic episodes may simply appear as a period of successful high productivity and is reported less frequently than a distressing depression. Psychosis can occur, particularly in manic periods. There are also 'rapid cycling' subtypes. Because there is so much variation in the severity and nature of mood-related problems, the concept of a bipolar spectrum is often employed, which includes cyclothymia. There is no consensus as to how many 'types' of bipolar disorder exist.[17] Many people with bipolar disorder experience severe anxiety and are very irritable (to the point of rage) when in a manic state, while others are euphoric and grandiose.





Depressive phase

Main article: Clinical Depression

Signs and symptoms of the depressive phase of bipolar disorder include: persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, guilt, anger, isolation and/or hopelessness, disturbances in sleep and appetite, fatigue and loss of interest in usually enjoyed activities, problems concentrating, loneliness, self-loathing, apathy or indifference, depersonalization, loss of interest in sexual activity, shyness or social anxiety, irritability, chronic pain (with or without a known cause), lack of motivation, and morbid/suicidal ideation.[18]





Mania

Main article: Mania

Mania is generally characterized by a distinct period of an elevated, expansive or irritable mood state. People commonly experience an increase in energy and a decreased need for sleep. A person's speech may be pressured, with thoughts experienced as racing. Attention span is low and a person in a manic state may be easily distracted. People may feel they have been 'chosen', or are 'on a special mission', which are considered grandiose or delusional ideas. At more extreme phases, a person in a manic state can begin to experience psychosis, or a break with reality, where thinking is affected along with mood. In order to be diagnosed with mania according to DSM-IV, a person must experience this state of elevated or irritable mood as well as other symptoms for two or more weeks.





Hypomania

Main article: Hypomania

Hypomania is generally a less extreme state than mania, and people in the hypomanic phase generally experience less of the symptoms of mania than those in a full-blown manic episode. During an episode of Hypomania one might feel an uncontrollable impulse to laugh at things he or she does not normally find funny. The duration is usually also shorter than in mania. This is often a very 'artistic' state of the disorder, where there is a flight of ideas, extremely clever thinking, and an increase in energy.





Mixed state

Main article: Mixed state (psychiatry)

In the context of bipolar disorder, a mixed state is a condition during which symptoms of mania and clinical depression occur simultaneously (for example, agitation, anxiety, aggressiveness or belligerence, confusion, fatigue, impulsiveness, insomnia, irritability, morbid and/or suicidal ideation, panic, paranoia, persecutory delusions, pressured speech, racing thoughts, restlessness, and rage).[19]



Mixed episodes can be the most volatile of the bipolar states, as moods can easily and quickly be triggered or shifted.[citation needed] Suicide attempts, substance abuse, and self-mutilation may occur during this state.[citation needed]





Rapid cycling

Rapid cycling, defined as having four or more episodes per year, is found in a significant fraction of patients with bipolar disorder. It has been associated with greater disability or a worse prognosis, due to the confusing changeability and difficulty in establishing a stable state. Rapid cycling can be induced or made worse by antidepressants, unless there is adjunctive treatment with a mood stabilizer.[20][21]





Cognition

Recent studies have found that bipolar disorder involves certain cognitive deficits or impairments, even in states of remission.[22][23][24][25] Deborah Yurgelun-Todd of McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts has argued these deficits should be included as a core feature of bipolar disorder. According to McIntyre et al. (2006),



Study results now press the point that neurocognitive deficits are a primary feature of BD; they are highly prevalent and persist in the absence of overt symptomatology. Although disparate neurocognitive abnormalities have been reported, disturbances in attention, visual memory, and executive function are most consistently reported.[26]



However, in the April-June 2007 issue of the Journal of Psychiatric Research, Spanish researchers reported that people with bipolar 1 who have a history of psychotic symptoms do not necessarily experience an increase in cognitive impairment.[citation needed]



Creativity

Main article: Creativity and mental illness

A number of recent studies have observed a correlation between creativity and bipolar disorder,[2][3][4] although it is unclear in which direction the cause lies, or whether both conditions are caused by some third, unknown, factor. It has been hypothesized that temperament may be one such factor.