Biological Theories of Manic-Depression

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Biological Theories of Manic-Depression

Like every mental illness, there is no definitive evidence concerning the etiology of manic-depression, also known as bipolar disorder. The disorder is characterized by alternating periods of depression and mania and occurs in 1% of the population. The depressive episodes can range in severity from dysthymia to major depressive episodes. The major depressive episodes are classified as periods of at least two weeks in length during which sadness, lethargy, insomnia or excessive sleep, increase or decrease in appetite, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation or suicide attempts are present. Dysthymia is the milder form of depression, during which suicidal ideation and attempts are not present. Manic episodes are of at least two weeks in duration and are characterized by euphoria, flight of ideas, grandiose delusions, pressured speech, increased activity, and insomnia. Manic episodes can also vary in intensity; the milder form of a manic episode is known as hypomania and can be distinguished from a full-blown manic attack by its lack of psychotic features and the lesser degree to which the individual is impaired. In addition, there can also be mixed episodes, during which both depressive symptoms and manic symptoms are present simultaneously. The various types of episodes can combine in several ways to form three separate disorders along the bipolar spectrum; bipolar I consists of manic episodes and major depressive episodes as well as mixed episodes, bipolar II consists of major depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes, and cyclothymia consists of dysthymic episodes and hypomanic episodes. Although individuals can obviously suffer from depressive episodes without ever experiencing a manic ...

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...w.usatoday.com/news/health/mentalh/depress/lhmde002.htm

4) Bipolar Disorder: Seeking the Balance

http://www.ahfmr.ab.ca/Sept97/bipolar.html

5)Brain Changes in Depression

http://www.schizophrenia.com/ami/diagnosis/mrBIPOL.html

6)Mental Health Net – All About Bipolar Disorder

http://bipolar.cmhc.com/

7) What is Bipolar Disorder?

http://www7.health.gov.au/hsdd/mentalhe/nmhs/what/bipolar/index.htm

Other References

American Psychiatric Association. 1994. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. American Psychiatric Association, Washington, D.C.

Feldman, Meyer, and Quenzer. 1997. Principles of Neuropsychopharmacology. Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland, Massachusetts.

Klein, M. 1935. A contribution to the psychogenesis of manic-depressive states. The Selected Melanie Klein, 116-145. Macmillan, Inc., New York, New York.

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