COURSE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF MANIC-DEPRESSION
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Between .4 and 1.2 percent of the population of the United States will have
manic-depression in their lifetime (Weissman and Myers, 1978). Unlike
unipolar depression, which affects more women than men, manic-depression
affects both sexes equally. The onset of manic-depression is sudden,
usually a matter of hours or days, and typically no precipitating event is obvious.
The first episode is usually manic, not depressive, and it generally appears
between the ages of twenty and thirty. This first attack occurs
somewhat earlier than a first attack in unipolar depression. Ninety percent
of manic-depressives will have had their first attack before they are fifty
years old. Manic-depressive illness tends to recur, and each episode lasts
from several days to several months. Over the first ten years of the disorder,
the frequency and intensity of the episodes tends to worsen. Surprisingly,
however, not many episodes occur twenty years after the initial onset. Both
manic and depressive episodes occur in the disorder, but regular cycling
(e.g., three months manic, followed by three months depressive, and so on)
is rare. The depressive component of manic-depressive illness is similar in
kind to that of unipolar depression, but it is often more severe (Angst, Baastrup,
Grof, Hippius, Poldinger, and Weiss, 1973; Loranger and Levine,
1978; Depue and Monroe, 1979).
Manic-depressive illness is not a benign, remitting disorder. For some,
extreme manic episodes may bring about much hardship. Their hyperactivity
and bizarre behavior may be self-defeating. Employers may become
annoyed at their behavior, and some manic-depressives may then find
themselves without a job, For others, entire careers may be lost. In addition,
manic-depressives' social relationships also tend to break down. The manic
person is hard to deal with. A much higher percentage of married manic
depressives divorce, than do married unipolar depressives. Alcohol abuse,
either in attempted self-medication or due to poor judgment and impulsiveness,
is very high in manic-depression. The more severe the mania, the more
frequent the alcoholism. In all, between 20 and 50 percent of manic-depressives
suffer chronic social and occupational impairment. In most extreme
cases, hospitalization is required. And for a few, suicide is a constant
threat. The rate of attempted and successful suicides is also higher in bipolar
than in unipolar depressions. As many as 15 percent of manic-depressives
may end their life by suicide (Brodie and Leff, 1971; Carlson, Kotin, Daven
BIPOLAR DEPRESSION (MANIC-DEPRESSION)
The activity of the manic has an intrusive, demanding, and domineering
quality to it. Manics sometimes make us uncomfortable because of this. It is
difficult to spend much time with an individual who delivers a rapid succession
of thoughts and who behaves in a frenetic way almost in disregard of
those around him. Other behaviors that commonly occur during mania are
compulsive gambling, reckless driving, poor financial investments, and
flamboyant dress and makeup.
Physical Symptoms
With all this flurry of activity comes a greatly lessened need for sleep. Such
hyposomnia virtually always occurs during mania. After a couple of days of
this, exhaustion inevitably sets in and the mania slows down.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTES: Between .4 and 1.2 percent of the population of the United States will have
manic-depression in their lifetime (Weissman and Myers, 1978). Unlike
unipolar depression, which affects more women than men, manic-depression
affects both sexes equally. The onset of manic-depression is sudden,
usually a matter of hours or days, and typically no precipitating event is obvious.
The first episode is usually manic, not depressive, and it generally appears
between the ages of twenty and thirty. This first attack occurs
somewhat earlier than a first attack in unipolar depression. Ninety percent
of manic-depressives will have had their first attack before they are fifty
years old. Manic-depressive illness tends to recur, and each episode lasts
from several days to several months. Over the first ten years of the disorder,
the frequency and intensity of the episodes tends to worsen. Surprisingly,
however, not many episodes occur twenty years after the initial onset. Both
manic and depressive episodes occur in the disorder, but regular cycling
(e.g., three months manic, followed by three months depressive, and so on)
is rare. The depressive component of manic-depressive illness is similar in
kind to that of unipolar depression, but it is often more severe (Angst, Baastrup,
Grof, Hippius, Poldinger, and Weiss, 1973; Loranger and Levine,
1978; Depue and Monroe, 1979).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Manic-depressive illness is not a benign, remitting disorder.
For some,
extreme manic episodes may bring about much hardship. Their hyperactivity
and bizarre behavior may be self-defeating. Employers may become
annoyed at their behavior, and some manic-depressives may then find
themselves without a job. For others, entire careers may be lost. In addition,
manic-depressives' social relationships also tend to break down. The manic
person is hard to deal with. A much higher percentage of married manic
depressives divorce, than do married unipolar depressives. Alcohol abuse,
either in attempted self-medication or due to poor judgment and impulsiveness,
is very high in manic-depression. The more severe the mania, the more
frequent the alcoholism. In all, between 20 and 50 percent of manic-depressives
suffer chronic social and occupational impairment. In most extreme
cases, hospitalization is required. And for a few, suicide is a constant
threat. The rate of attempted and successful suicides is also higher in bipolar
than in unipolar depressions. As many as 15 percent of manic-depressives
may end their life by suicide.
(Brodie and Leff, 1971; Carlson, Kotin, Daven- port, and Adland, 1974;
Reich, Davies, and Himmelhoch, 1974; Dunner, Gershom, and Goodwin, 1976).
When the mania is more moderate and the depressions are not too debilitating,
however, the manic-depressive's ambition, hyperactivity, talkativeness,
and grandiosity may lead to great achievements. This behavior is conducive
to success in our society. It is no surprise that many creative people,
leaders of industry, entertainment, politics, and religion may have been able
to use and control their manic-depression. For example, Abraham Lincoln,
Winston Churchill, and Theodore Roosevelt probably all were manic-depressives.
They may have benefited from a condition that produces so much
distress and even ruin in others.
CAUSE OF MANIC-DEPRESSION
The cause of manic-depressive illness is unknown. On the surface, with its
euphoria and hyperactivity, it looks like the opposite state of depression.
But as we have seen, feelings of depression are close at hand during the
mania. The bipolar individual, when manic, is close to tears; he voices more
hopelessness and has more suicidal thoughts than normal individuals.
This has led some theorists to believe that mania is a defense against an
underlying depression, with a brittle euphoria warding off more fundamental
sadness.
Other theorists believe that manic-depression results from homeostatic
biological processes that have become ungoverned. When a normal individual
becomes depressed, the depression is allegedly ended by switching in an
opposite, euphoric state that cancels it out. Conversely, when a normal individual
becomes euphoric, this state is kept from spiraling out of bounds by
switching in a depressive state that neutralizes the euphoria. A disturbance
in the balance of these opposing processes, with the reaction to depression or
mania overshooting its mark, may be responsible for the manic-depressive
disorder. Investigations of the biochemistry of the switching process from
mania to depression may illuminate the biological underpinnings of the
disorder in the future (Bunney, Murphy, Goodwin, and Borge, 1972; Solomon and Corbit, 1974).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Treating:
Depression
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Social Anxiety
Generalized Anxiety
Panic Disorder
Major Depression Disorder
Agoraphobia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For the Therapy I recommend click here:
The Liberator Method
manic-depression in their lifetime (Weissman and Myers, 1978). Unlike
unipolar depression, which affects more women than men, manic-depression
affects both sexes equally. The onset of manic-depression is sudden,
usually a matter of hours or days, and typically no precipitating event is obvious.
The first episode is usually manic, not depressive, and it generally appears
between the ages of twenty and thirty. This first attack occurs
somewhat earlier than a first attack in unipolar depression. Ninety percent
of manic-depressives will have had their first attack before they are fifty
years old. Manic-depressive illness tends to recur, and each episode lasts
from several days to several months. Over the first ten years of the disorder,
the frequency and intensity of the episodes tends to worsen. Surprisingly,
however, not many episodes occur twenty years after the initial onset. Both
manic and depressive episodes occur in the disorder, but regular cycling
(e.g., three months manic, followed by three months depressive, and so on)
is rare. The depressive component of manic-depressive illness is similar in
kind to that of unipolar depression, but it is often more severe (Angst, Baastrup,
Grof, Hippius, Poldinger, and Weiss, 1973; Loranger and Levine,
1978; Depue and Monroe, 1979).
Manic-depressive illness is not a benign, remitting disorder. For some,
extreme manic episodes may bring about much hardship. Their hyperactivity
and bizarre behavior may be self-defeating. Employers may become
annoyed at their behavior, and some manic-depressives may then find
themselves without a job, For others, entire careers may be lost. In addition,
manic-depressives' social relationships also tend to break down. The manic
person is hard to deal with. A much higher percentage of married manic
depressives divorce, than do married unipolar depressives. Alcohol abuse,
either in attempted self-medication or due to poor judgment and impulsiveness,
is very high in manic-depression. The more severe the mania, the more
frequent the alcoholism. In all, between 20 and 50 percent of manic-depressives
suffer chronic social and occupational impairment. In most extreme
cases, hospitalization is required. And for a few, suicide is a constant
threat. The rate of attempted and successful suicides is also higher in bipolar
than in unipolar depressions. As many as 15 percent of manic-depressives
may end their life by suicide (Brodie and Leff, 1971; Carlson, Kotin, Daven
BIPOLAR DEPRESSION (MANIC-DEPRESSION)
The activity of the manic has an intrusive, demanding, and domineering
quality to it. Manics sometimes make us uncomfortable because of this. It is
difficult to spend much time with an individual who delivers a rapid succession
of thoughts and who behaves in a frenetic way almost in disregard of
those around him. Other behaviors that commonly occur during mania are
compulsive gambling, reckless driving, poor financial investments, and
flamboyant dress and makeup.
Physical Symptoms
With all this flurry of activity comes a greatly lessened need for sleep. Such
hyposomnia virtually always occurs during mania. After a couple of days of
this, exhaustion inevitably sets in and the mania slows down.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTES: Between .4 and 1.2 percent of the population of the United States will have
manic-depression in their lifetime (Weissman and Myers, 1978). Unlike
unipolar depression, which affects more women than men, manic-depression
affects both sexes equally. The onset of manic-depression is sudden,
usually a matter of hours or days, and typically no precipitating event is obvious.
The first episode is usually manic, not depressive, and it generally appears
between the ages of twenty and thirty. This first attack occurs
somewhat earlier than a first attack in unipolar depression. Ninety percent
of manic-depressives will have had their first attack before they are fifty
years old. Manic-depressive illness tends to recur, and each episode lasts
from several days to several months. Over the first ten years of the disorder,
the frequency and intensity of the episodes tends to worsen. Surprisingly,
however, not many episodes occur twenty years after the initial onset. Both
manic and depressive episodes occur in the disorder, but regular cycling
(e.g., three months manic, followed by three months depressive, and so on)
is rare. The depressive component of manic-depressive illness is similar in
kind to that of unipolar depression, but it is often more severe (Angst, Baastrup,
Grof, Hippius, Poldinger, and Weiss, 1973; Loranger and Levine,
1978; Depue and Monroe, 1979).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Manic-depressive illness is not a benign, remitting disorder.
For some,
extreme manic episodes may bring about much hardship. Their hyperactivity
and bizarre behavior may be self-defeating. Employers may become
annoyed at their behavior, and some manic-depressives may then find
themselves without a job. For others, entire careers may be lost. In addition,
manic-depressives' social relationships also tend to break down. The manic
person is hard to deal with. A much higher percentage of married manic
depressives divorce, than do married unipolar depressives. Alcohol abuse,
either in attempted self-medication or due to poor judgment and impulsiveness,
is very high in manic-depression. The more severe the mania, the more
frequent the alcoholism. In all, between 20 and 50 percent of manic-depressives
suffer chronic social and occupational impairment. In most extreme
cases, hospitalization is required. And for a few, suicide is a constant
threat. The rate of attempted and successful suicides is also higher in bipolar
than in unipolar depressions. As many as 15 percent of manic-depressives
may end their life by suicide.
(Brodie and Leff, 1971; Carlson, Kotin, Daven- port, and Adland, 1974;
Reich, Davies, and Himmelhoch, 1974; Dunner, Gershom, and Goodwin, 1976).
When the mania is more moderate and the depressions are not too debilitating,
however, the manic-depressive's ambition, hyperactivity, talkativeness,
and grandiosity may lead to great achievements. This behavior is conducive
to success in our society. It is no surprise that many creative people,
leaders of industry, entertainment, politics, and religion may have been able
to use and control their manic-depression. For example, Abraham Lincoln,
Winston Churchill, and Theodore Roosevelt probably all were manic-depressives.
They may have benefited from a condition that produces so much
distress and even ruin in others.
CAUSE OF MANIC-DEPRESSION
The cause of manic-depressive illness is unknown. On the surface, with its
euphoria and hyperactivity, it looks like the opposite state of depression.
But as we have seen, feelings of depression are close at hand during the
mania. The bipolar individual, when manic, is close to tears; he voices more
hopelessness and has more suicidal thoughts than normal individuals.
This has led some theorists to believe that mania is a defense against an
underlying depression, with a brittle euphoria warding off more fundamental
sadness.
Other theorists believe that manic-depression results from homeostatic
biological processes that have become ungoverned. When a normal individual
becomes depressed, the depression is allegedly ended by switching in an
opposite, euphoric state that cancels it out. Conversely, when a normal individual
becomes euphoric, this state is kept from spiraling out of bounds by
switching in a depressive state that neutralizes the euphoria. A disturbance
in the balance of these opposing processes, with the reaction to depression or
mania overshooting its mark, may be responsible for the manic-depressive
disorder. Investigations of the biochemistry of the switching process from
mania to depression may illuminate the biological underpinnings of the
disorder in the future (Bunney, Murphy, Goodwin, and Borge, 1972; Solomon and Corbit, 1974).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Treating:
Depression
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Social Anxiety
Generalized Anxiety
Panic Disorder
Major Depression Disorder
Agoraphobia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For the Therapy I recommend click here:
The Liberator Method