Life For People With Manic-Depression
Q: The National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association (National DMDA) and the
American Psychiatric Association (APA) announced on May 24, 1993 the results of
the first ever comprehensive survey of people with manic-depression which
revealed that prompt medical diagnosis and treatment dramatically improve the
quality of life for those who have the illness.
However, the survey shows that even mental health professionals continue to have
trouble diagnosing the illness correctly which result in a variety of chronic
personal and professional difficulties for the more than three million Americans
with the disorder.
A:In manic depressive illness, also known as bipolar disorder, patients alternate
between periods of manic (intense "highs", racing thoughts, grandiose and
unrealistic plans and ideas) lasting weeks or months with even longer periods of
extreme, debilitating depression.
The significant study of the illness and its effect on the day to day lives of
people with the condition was presented at the American Psychiatric Association
Annual Meeting.
Sponsored jointly by the National DMDA and the APA, the study reports both good
and bad news in the fight against bipolar illness. On one hand the study finds
that, all too often and for too long a period of time, the illness goes
undetected or misdiagnosed. However, when correctly diagnosed and treated,
people with the illness can and do lead productive, fulfilling lives.
National DMDA Executive Director Susan Dime-Meenan calls the survey a milestone
on the road to a better understanding of manic-depressive illness. "For