| Among all types of depression manic depressive | | | | indifferent and pessimistic; feels guilty and worthless; |
| disorder or bipolar disorder is by far the least common. | | | | shows a loss of appetite and a change in sleep |
| Nonetheless, according to recent studies and | | | | patterns - with insomnia being very common; is |
| depending on the interpretation of the results of these | | | | indecisive and unable to concentrate; experiences |
| studies about 1.3 to 6.4 percent of the population can | | | | anxiety, irritability and anger. Furthermore, the patient |
| be classified as having manic depressive disorder. This | | | | may have recurring thoughts of death or suicide. |
| type of depression is characterized by mood swings | | | | Sometimes manic depressive disorder patients |
| between severe emotional lows (the depressive state) | | | | experience a mixed state where certain aspects of |
| and highs (the manic state. In general manic depressive | | | | the manic and the depressive state occur next to |
| disorder is categorized as either Bipolar Type I or | | | | each other. For example it is possible that a patient |
| Bipolar Type II - the former defined by mania in its | | | | experiences insomnia, paranoia, anxiety and suicidal |
| extreme form, the latter characterized by a less | | | | thoughts as well as agitation, aggressiveness and |
| extreme expression of mania called hypo-mania. | | | | hyperactivity. Mixed episodes of manic depressive |
| The manic phases of manic depressive disorder are | | | | disorder often are the most destructive mental state |
| defined by a dramatic increase in energy leading to | | | | leading to self-mutilation, suicidal activities and |
| over-activity and over-confidence. The patient is also | | | | substance abuse if untreated. |
| commonly over-talkative with a high speech-rate. The | | | | While some sufferers of manic depressive disorder |
| attention span is drastically lowered as is the ability to | | | | experience only a few manic and depressive episodes |
| think rationally and to behave properly in social settings. | | | | during their lifetime the opposite is true for many other |
| This in turn leads to the affected person devising and | | | | cases of this type of depression. Rapid cycling of |
| pursuing unrealistic and oftentimes dangerous ideas, as | | | | mania and depression is hard to control and has a |
| well as to the unintentional creation of embarrassing | | | | worse prognosis than the other types of manic |
| situations in public. If left untreated mania can develop | | | | depressive disorder. Interestingly the use of |
| into a psychotic state. The hypo-mania characteristic | | | | antidepressants can have a negative effect on |
| for Bipolar Type II is less destructive than full-blown | | | | patients experiencing rapid cycles or can even induce |
| mania insofar as the symptoms are much weaker and | | | | the rapid cycling state. |
| usually last for a shorter period of time. The | | | | Concluding it has to be said that manic depressive |
| hypo-manic state can even lead to creative outbursts | | | | disorder is a serious condition and arguably the worst |
| and, at least temporarily, to unusually high innovative | | | | of all types of depression. Probably to a large extent |
| problem solving skills. | | | | genetically pre-determined it cannot be healed. |
| The depressive phases of manic depressive disorder | | | | However, the condition can be alleviated and controlled |
| are in no way different than the depressive phases of | | | | by proper medicinal management and anyone |
| other kinds of depression. The patient experiences | | | | suffering from manic depressive disorder is |
| prolonged phases of sadness, often without a cause, | | | | well-advised to seek medical help as soon as possible. |
| and a loss of energy leading to lethargy. He is | | | | |