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Doctors Fail to Spot Manic
Depression Copyright 2003 The Observer THOUSANDS of people suffering from manic depression are having to wait at least a year before they are diagnosed with the condition because many doctors do not recognize the symptoms. A survey of British psychiatrists to be published tomorrow will show that the illness, also known as bipolar disorder, is still shrouded in mystery, even though it is thought to affect one in every 100 people. Once it has been identified, the condition can be treated with medication and most patients go on to lead relatively stable lives, with little need for hospital services. But there is growing concern that many are slipping through the net,and spiraling into a deepening depression because they are not treated properly.
One of those who knows how terrible it can be is Sally Earl. At 26, daughter, it was horrible,' said Earl, who is now 44 and has a part-time job as a beauty therapist. 'I was in floods of tears, I felt really desolate and it was as if I hit rock bottom. You cease to differentiate between nightmares and reality.' She had a further breakdown and developed strange phobias. 'My husband would come home to find that I had thrown lots of things away in the bin. I became convinced that all our net curtains were dirty and had to be washed. In a survey of 72 consultant psychiatrists, more than half believed that symptoms experienced in the manic phase are the most damaging to the individual's life. Typically, patients in a manic phase become more active and have heightened mood swings, and exaggerated optimism and self-confidence. In moderation, these appear to be positive traits, explaining why many sufferers hold down important careers. But when the characteristics become exaggerated, it leads to over-tiredness, excessive irritability and aggressive behavior. The disease is often linked to creativity, and has affected several famous personalities, including Spike Milligan. Artists Jackson Pollock and Van Gogh were also said to suffer from the illness, as was Winston Churchill, who famously called it 'black dog'. Bipolar disorder is a complex mental illness that has an impact not only on sufferers, but also their families and careers. It is estimated to affect more than 1 per cent of the population - nearly 600,000 people. There does not appear to be one single cause, but several different factors. It tends to run in families and researchers are looking at specific genes which may predispose an individual to the condition, but there are also likely to be environmental factors involved. The survey results will reveal that most psychiatrists believe it takes more than 12 months for a diagnosis and one-third of them feel that over half of cases are initially misdiagnosed, possibly due to a lack of awareness of the symptoms. If bipolar disorder is misdiagnosed as depression and anti- depressants are prescribed, they can actually induce manic episodes. Amanda Harris, chief executive of the Manic Depression Fellowship, said: 'For too long the service needs of people with bipolar disorder have been poorly understood and treatment efforts chronically under funded. 'The dearth of research into the causes and treatment is remarkable when you consider the cost to society and individuals. Stigma, prejudice and ignorance continue to persist around this illness.' | This Article has been submitted by the Jeremy's Prophecy Dot Com team for informational and educational purposes. Jeremy's Prophecy Dot Com is a website dedicated to telling the story of Jeremy Jacobs, a character in the novel, Jeremy's Prophecy Dot Com.
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