What is Bipolar Manic Depression?

Bipolar manic depression is the lay term for Bipolar disorder. A severe illness, it consists of recurrent episodes of depression and mania.

Bipolar manic depression can affect anyone, with no distinction in age, gender, or race. It usually appears in the late teens/early twenties. In children and teens, it is characterized by chronic bouts of mania, which is episodic in adults. It usually starts with a manic episode in men, a depressive one for women.

Genetic predisposition has been clearly established, but scientists are still not sure as to what triggers bipolar manic depression. The tentative explanation is a theory of chemical imbalance in the brain, whereby neurotransmitters that regulate mood with serotonin and norepinephrine go awry.

Symptoms of depression include sadness, fatigue, sleeping and eating problems, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, suicidal and self-harm thoughts, and poor concentration. Mania is characterized by elation, inflated self-esteem and feelings of grandiosity, hyperactivity, decreased need for sleep, reckless and impulsive behavior, over-talkative racing speech, poor concentration, and attention deficit.

Cycles of bipolar manic depression can last for days, weeks, or months. In mixed episodes, both extremes can occur in the same day. 4 types of bipolar manic depression have been defined.

Bipolar I is characterized by more manic or mixed episodes, occurring nearly every day for at least a week, accompanied by one or more depressive episode. The most severe form of bipolar manic depression, usually marked by severe manic episodes, it can vary between sufferers.

Bipolar II is characterized by one or more depressive episode accompanied by at least one hypomanic episode. A feature of bipolar II is hypomania, less severe than mania, but clearly different from depression. This type may be misdiagnosed as depression if hypomania is overlooked.

Cyclothymic disorder is characterized by chronic fluctuations between hypomania and depression, with shorter and less severe episodes than Bipolar I and II.

Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (NOS) doesn’t fit the above.

Bipolar manic depression can often be misdiagnosed as depression or schizophrenia. Symptoms also resemble those of conditions like substance abuse, poor school performance or trouble in the workplace.

Treatment for bipolar manic depression depends on the severity of symptoms. Options include mood-stabilizing drugs like Lithium, antidepressants, sedatives or tranquilizers. Non-medical options include counseling, psychotherapy, community support and self-help groups.