Depressive and manic depressive illness are the two major types of depressive illness, also known as affective disorders, or mood disorders, because they primarily affect a person's mood. Different terms, respectively, include unipolar and bipolar disorder. You may have heard of other forms of depressive illness such as dysthymia, a type of chronic moderate depression, or cyclothymia, a form of manic depression in which the cycles (mood swings) are not quite as severe. In this booklet, we will predominately discuss major depressive disorder and manic depression, which encompasses symptoms of depression and mania or hypomania, a more moderate syndrome than full-blown mania.

Symptoms of Depression

Symptoms of Mania

Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells

Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety

Pessimism, indifference Loss of energy, persistent lethargy

Feelings of guilt, worthlessness Inability to concentrate, indecisiveness

Inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal Unexplained aches and pains Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

Heightened mood, exaggerated optimism and self confidence Decreased need for sleep without experiencing fatigue

Grandiose delusions, inflated sense of self-importance

Excessive irritability, aggressive behavior Increased physical and mental activity

Racing speech, flight of ideas, impulsiveness

Poor judgment, easily distracted Reckless behavior such as spending sprees, rash business decisions, erratic driving, sexual indiscretions

In the most severe cases, hallucinations

It is estimated that over 17.4 million adults in the U.S. suffer from an affective disorder each year--that's one out of every seven people. If you are not affected now, chances are that at some point in your life, you yourself or someone you know will become affected. If you are a woman, you are twice as likely as a man to experience major depression while manic depression occurs equally among the sexes. Although these illnesses can occur at any age, many have their onset within the 2544 age range.

Where do these illnesses come from? Genetic, biochemical and environmental factors can each play a role in onset and progression. While we all experience occasional highs and lows, affective disorders are characterized by their extremes in intensity and duration. Even at their most intense, the symptoms are often mistaken for other medical problems or dismissed as a reflection of someone's personality, age, social influence or background.

Research indicates that only one-third of those with major depression will get proper treatment, and two-thirds of those with any kind of affective disorder who do receive treatment will be misdiagnosed. These statistics reflect the insidiousness of the illness and the importance of both public and physician education. A lag in diagnosis and treatment could prove deadly; people with severe, untreated depression have a suicide rate as high as 15 percent. In fact, the number one cause of suicide in the U.S. is untreated depression.

Don't be overwhelmed by these sobering statistics. Of all psychiatric illnesses, affective disorders are among the most responsive to treatment. If given proper care, approximately 80 percent of patients with major depression demonstrate significant improvement and lead productive lives. Although the treatment success rate is not as high for bipolar disorder, a substantial number experience a return to a higher quality of life.

Neither DBSA Metropolitan Atlanta nor our national organization endorses or recommends the use of any specific treatment or medication listed in this publication. For advice about specific treatment or medication, patients should consult their physicians and/or mental health professional.