Manic-depressive psychosis, also known as bipolar disorder or cyclophrenia, is a serious mental disorder. Patients struggling with manic-depressive psychosis may endanger not only themselves, but also the he alth and even life of other people. What are the causes and symptoms of manic depressive psychosis? How is her treatment going?

Manic-depressive psychosismeans otherwisebipolar disorder , bipolar disorder, bipolar affective disorder, cyclophrenia. The essence of this mental disorder are mood swings - cyclical alternating phases of depression and mania, followed by states of apparent mental he alth (bipolar disorder - bipolar disorder).

Manic-Depressive Psychosis: Causes

Bipolar disorder is an endogenous mental disorder. This means that its cause is independent of external factors. The disease is caused by disorders of the secretory work of the brain, the so-called neurotransmission disorders. The secretion of several substances responsible for, among others, for the quality of thinking and mood, such as neoadrenaline, serotonin, acetylcholine, and dopamine. Unfortunately, it is not known what causes these disorders.

Genetic factors also play a role. Manic depressive psychosis can be hereditary, but in the sense that only a predisposition to it can be inherited. However, even if you inherit it, it does not mean that the disease will occur, nor will it be similar. The vast majority of descendants of the sick person do not have this type of mental disorder.

Manic-Depressive Psychosis: Symptoms

The disease is most often associated with alternating episodes of depression and mania. Their length may vary, but they usually last 2-3 months. In between, there are periods of apparent mental he alth in which mood is balanced. The period of manic-depressive psychosis, which is characterized by the absence of disease symptoms, is called remission. It is difficult to predict what episode - mania or depression - will follow the period of disease remission.

In the course of a depressive episode, the patient has a reduced well-being that does not improve even after trying to console him. His depressed mood is also independent ofvarious events, including positive ones. Even their occurrence does not improve the patient's condition. Moreover, the patient is ill:

  • unable to feel joy or pleasure
  • apathetic
  • scared
  • tired
  • dementia
  • sleepy or vice versa - may be suffering from insomnia;

Delusions, usually involving punishment or condemnation, may develop later in the disease. In extreme cases, the patient may attempt suicide.

In turn, the mania phase is characterized by a constantly elevated mood. As with the depressive phase, it is unaffected by any events, both positive and negative. In this phase, the sick person:

  • overly happy, overjoyed;
  • is psychomotorally agitated (the feeling of fatigue is reduced);
  • talks a lot, can even overwhelm with talkativeness. However, what is characteristic of his statements is the multithreaded nature of the utterance, word-of-mouth;
  • may behave irrationally, take dangerous, endangering and other activities;

There may also be delusions of size. Then the sick person is convinced of their superiority, is sensitive to criticism, takes it badly, and often reacts to it with aggression.

Unipolar mania is a rare form of bipolar disorder in which only recurrent manic or hypomanic states occur without depressive episodes.

Don't do that

A person in the depressed phase cannot be advised to get a grip that he can overcome problems if he wants to. Nor should he be comforted by saying "you look good, you're okay." Such tips only worsen the patient's condition. Encouraged to mobilize, he makes efforts to overcome the disease, but to no avail. Then the feeling of guilt increases and self-esteem decreases. It's a simple way to think and even attempt suicide.

Manic-Depressive Psychosis: Diagnostics

The doctor should conduct a thorough interview with the patient and his surroundings, as well as order detailed tests to be able to exclude diseases that manifest themselves similarly, including: anxiety disorders, ADHD, multiple sclerosis, lupus, brain tumor, epilepsy.

Manic Depressive Psychosis: Treatment

The goal of treatment is to maximize remission, i.e. the period without symptoms. The longer it is, the better, as it means that the treatment is effective. The therapy uses antidepressants and antipsychotics as well as those that stabilize the secretory function of the brain, and thus - mood (e.g. lithium carbonate, valproates,carbamazepine and lamotrigine). Initially, treatment takes place in a hospital setting. It is necessary because of manic episodes that threaten the he alth and even life of the environment, as well as depressive episodes, during which the patient may attempt suicide.

Category:

Psychiatry