Information on manic depressive disorder and manic depression symptoms.

What is Manic Depression?

Manic Depression is now more commonly referred to as Bipolar Disorder. Manic Depression symptoms include extreme mood swings.

The individual suffering from Manic Depression alternates between feelings of depression and feelings of exaggerated happiness and confidence (mania).

This mood disorder can range in severity and in extreme cases, can be a seriously incapacitating disorder that and sometimes Manic Depression symptoms prevent the individual from living a normal productive life.

Diagnosing Manic Depression

Manic Depressive disorder can be difficult to diagnose. If left untreated, however, it can have serious consequences such as substance abuse, spending sprees and bankruptcy, car accidents, and even suicide. Often times a major problem is that since Manic Depression symptoms are so tied up in the psychology of the sufferer, they can simply feel that their mood swings are just ‘part of them’, and will not seek help.

Seek a professional evaluation if you think you may be suffering from Manic Depressive disorder so that you can begin a treatment plan as soon as possible. Usually, a specialist will perform a full psychiatric evaluation in order to determine the extent of the symptoms.

Often, they will also request a full family psychiatric history in order to determine if depression or manic depressive conditions have existed in relatives, as the condition is considered to be partially hereditary.

They will also perform blood tests and a physical evaluation to make sure no other disease or sickness is causing the symptoms.

What Causes Manic Depression?

There are many theories as to the cause of Manic Depressive disorder. Some suggest that the problem can be based off of a person’s environment or life experience, basically meaning that certain events, hardships, stress or other outside factors can have an impact on a person’s psyche and induce manic depressive symptoms.

However, manic depression is more widely considered to be a biological disorder, and that environmental factors mainly act as triggers for symptoms or work to exacerbate the condition.

Evidence also exists to suggest that manic depression is inherited, and that the children of parents who are manic depressive are more pre-disposed to developing the condition themselves.

More Information on Manic Depression