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Hollywood star Catherine Zeta-Jones recently revealed that she suffers from manic depression, or bipolar disorder.
What common understandings about manic depression are fact, and which are myths?
- Manic depression is the former name of what is nowadays known as bipolar disorder. The term “manic depression” is seldom used today. Instead, use of the term “bipolar disorder” is more prevalent.
- Manic depression is characterized by extreme mood swings, and is categorized as an affective or mood disorder.
- Mood swings of those with manic depression are different from normal mood swings. “The mood swings of bipolar [disorder] are more severe, longer lasting, and maybe most significant of all, they interfere with some important aspect of functioning, such as ability to work at one’s job, or manage one’s home, or be a successful student,” Matthew Rudorfer of the National Institute of Mental Health has said to WebMD.com.
- Symptoms of manic depression are severe. The condition can lead to broken interpersonal relationships, doing poorly in school or work, and suicide.
- Manic depression is named after the two phases of the disorder. The “manic” phase is characterized by euphoric aggression, while the “depression” phase includes anxiety and hopelessness.
- Nearly six million American adults suffer from manic depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
- No one really knows what cases manic depression. Scientists think that the disorder can be genetically inherited, a result of imbalanced hormones or neurotransmitters, and triggered by stress and other traumatic experiences.
Sources: WedMD.com, Mayo Clinic, National Institute of Mental Health.
