Manic Depressive Disorder – Symptoms, Treatment, Diagnosis

What do you know about depression? Depression is a period when feel ourselves depressed and sad. There are a lot of types of this mental disorder. Someone feels and functions rather normally between the periods of severe mood changes. Depending on our personal qualities, state of health and other factors, usual depression can result in manic depressive disorder. This mental disorder is also known as bipolar affective disorder. It features extreme mood changes. Sometimes, we feel great and even excited. Sometimes this feeling is changed by sadness and periods of depression. The period when we feel great is known as hypomania. When having hypomania, we can feel ourselves extremely happy, but we can get mad very quickly. We think we are able to do everything. What is the difference between hypomania and mania? When having mania, people have relational and social problems. They also can be psychotic. Manic depressive disorder can serious create problems in our daily life. Between periods of depression we can feel uncomfortable and ashamed for our behaviour within a period of mania. Manic episodes can cause problems at job and school. They also can cause attempted suicide.

Symptoms of manic depressive disorder

Manic depressive disorder causes sudden and unusual mood changes and activity. Its symptoms can last from a few days to a few months. They are feeling despaired, helpless and very sad. Suddenly these feelings are changed with feeling of euphoria. We feel being on top of the world. Its symptoms also include inability to sleep, high levels of energy, big plans, being restless, talkative and uneasy. Negative emotions during low energy phases, feelings of hopelessness, guilt and anxiety, loss of appetite are also among symptoms of manic depressive disorder.

Symptoms of this mental affection mostly occur from late teen to early adult age. First episodes are influenced both with negative and positive important life events. Women have moods three times more than men. Risk of having manic depressive disorder is higher, if you have a family history of this disorder.

Diagnosis and treatment of manic depressive disorder

Proper diagnosis is very important, if you want to kill manic depressive disorder. The steps of diagnosis involve evaluation of the medical history, interview, blood work, brain scans and physical examinations. Only after it, you doctor will provide referral to a psychiatrist. The complete diagnosis is also necessary to provide right way of treatment. Manic depressive disorder can coexist with some illnesses and it makes more difficult to treat it. Post-traumatic stress, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and social phobia are among those disorders. Manic depressive disorder is usually recommended to treat using a combination of psychotherapy and medication. As for medication, antipsychotic and atypical antipsychotic drugs are used. They are aripiprazolw, risperidone, quetiapine and olanzapine. Such mood stabilizers as anticonvulsants, valproic acid and lithium are also prescribed. Sedatives and sleeping medicine are sometimes prescribed to those patients who have troubled sleep. Psychotherapy involves family-focused therapy, interpersonal and cognitive behavioral therapy, psycho education and social rhythm therapy.

If not treated, manic depressive disorder does not go away at all. Though, mood stabilizers are able to keep your mood stable. Smoking, drug and alcohol abuse strengthen manic depressive disorder effect.