Now : Manic Depressive Disorder
Bipolar disorder is known by various names such as manic depressive disorder , manic depression and bipolar affective disorder . Manic depressive disorder ( bipolar disorder ) is a condition in which periods of depression alternate with periods of mania or lower levels of excitement .
Many scientists , psychiatrists , and physicians from various countries have been researching on this historic mental illness . It takes time for people to understand the difference between bipolar disorder / manic depressive disorder and other mental disorders . The reason behind this , is the similarity in the symptoms shown by patients with bipolar disorder / manic depressive disorders and other diseases .
Manic depressive disorder occurs in less than 2 % of the population .
These disorders affect men and women in the same ratio and usually starts in adolescence , ages 20 or 30 years .
Symptoms of manic depression
Manic depressive disorder usually begins with depression and with at least one episode of mania in the course of their illness . Depressive episode lasts for 3-6 months .
In the most severe form of the disorder ( bipolar disorder ) , be depressed punctuated by severe mania . In the form that is not too heavy ( bipolar II disorder ) , depressive episodes are interspersed with brief hypomania . Milder form is cyclothymic disorder , in which the period of excitement and depression is not too severe , lasts only a few days and relapse in irregular intervals . Cyclothymic disorder eventually develop into a manic depressive disorder , but never developed into depression or mania .
Cyclothymic disorder can cause sufferers success in business , leadership , achievement and artistic creativity . But the disease can also lead to employment records and unusual school , failure in love affair and marriage as well as the abuse of alcohol and drugs .
1 of 3 people with bipolar disorder experience symptoms of mania ( or hypomania ) and depression simultaneously. This situation is called a mixed bipolar state.
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