 Manic Depression / Bipolar Disorder
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Depression
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Depression is a depressive disorder that involves an adolescent's body, mood, and thoughts. It can affect and disrupt eating, sleeping, or thinking patterns, and is not the same as being unhappy or in a "blue" mood, nor is it a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. Children with a depressive illness cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Treatment is often necessary and many times crucial to recovery.
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- major depression(clinical depression)
- manic depression(bipolar disorder)
- dysthymia(dysthymic disorder)
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Manic depression, also known as bipolar disorder, is classified as a type of affective disorder (also called mood disorder) that goes beyond the day's ordinary ups and downs, becoming a serious medical condition and important health concern in this country. Manic depression is characterized by periodic episodes of extreme elation, happiness, elevated mood, or irritability (also called mania) countered by periodic, classic major depressive symptoms.
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Manic depression affects more than 5.7 million American adults, 18 years of age and older, each year. And, twenty to 30 percent of adult bipolar patients report having their first episode before the age of 20. When symptoms are present before the age of 12, they are often confused with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - a syndrome that is usually characterized by serious and persistent difficulties resulting in inattentiveness or "distractibility," impulsivity, and hyperactivity.
Affecting males and females equally (although females are more likely to experience more depressive and less manic symptoms), manic depression often begins in adolescence or early adulthood. Manic depression rarely occurs in young children.
Manic depression is likely to run in families and, in some cases, is believed to be hereditary. Family history of substance abuse also increases the risk of developing manic depression. Researchers are still undergoing intense research to identify a gene that may be responsible for this disorder.
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The following are the most common symptoms of manic depression. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently.
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- persistent feelings of sadness
- feeling hopeless or helpless
- having low self-esteem
- feeling inadequate
- excessive guilt
- feelings of wanting to die
- loss of interest in usual activities or activities once enjoyed
- difficulty with relationships
- sleep disturbances (i.e., insomnia, hypersomnia)
- changes in appetite or weight
- decreased energy
- difficulty concentrating
- a decrease in the ability to make decisions
- suicidal thoughts or attempts
- frequent physical complaints (i.e., headache, stomach ache, fatigue)
- running away or threats of running away from home
- hypersensitivity to failure or rejection
- irritability, hostility, aggression
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- overly inflated self-esteem
- decreased need for rest and sleep
- increased distractibility and irritability
- excessive involvement in pleasurable and/or high-risk activities that may result in painful consequence; this may include provocative, aggressive, destructive, or anti-social behavior (i.e., sexual promiscuity, reckless driving, reckless spending, abuse of alcohol and/or drugs).
- increased talkativeness (may include increase in rate of speech, changes topics quickly, cannot be interrupted)
- excessive high or euphoric feelings
- severe mood changes including unusually happy or silly, or unusually angry, agitated, or aggressive
- increased sex drive
- increased energy level
- uncharacteristically poor judgment
- increased denial
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Some teenagers in a manic phase experience psychotic symptoms including hallucinations and/or delusions.
For a diagnosis of manic depression to be made, an individual must exhibit both depressive and manic symptoms to a varying degree, depending upon the severity of the disorder. The symptoms of manic depression, especially in a teenager may resemble other problems (i.e., drug abuse, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, delinquency) or psychiatric conditions. Always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.
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Because depression has shown to often co-exist with other medical conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, or diabetes, and other psychiatric disorders, such as substance abuse, or anxiety disorders, seeking early diagnosis and treatment is crucial to recovery. A diagnosis is often made after a careful psychiatric examination and medical history performed by a psychiatrist or other mental health professional.
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Specific treatment for manic depression will be determined by your child's physician based on:
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- your child's age, overall health, and medical history
- extent of your child's symptoms
- your child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- expectations for the course of the condition
- your opinion or preference
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Mood disorders, including manic depression, can often be effectively treated. Treatment should always be based on a comprehensive evaluation of the child and family. Treatment may include one, or more, of the following:
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- medication (i.e., mood-stabilizing medications such as lithium, valproate, or carbamazepine, and/or antidepressants such as Prozac, Zoloft, or Paxil)
- psychotherapy (most often cognitive-behavioral and/or interpersonal therapy)
- family therapy
- consultation with the child's school
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Parents play a vital supportive role in any treatment process.
Recognizing the varied and extreme mood swings associated with manic depression is crucial in obtaining effective treatment, and avoiding the potentially painful consequences of the reckless, manic behavior.
In most cases, long term, preventive treatment is necessary to stabilize the mood swings associated with manic depression.
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