Diagnostic Criteria
Manic depression, or bipolar disorder, is a mood disorder defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that patients can be diagnosed with one of three types of manic depression: type one, type two and cyclothymia. In all three types of manic depression, patients have symptoms of mania and depression. Mania is defined as an abnormally high mood, with symptoms such as euphoria, hyperactivity, inflated self-esteem, reckless behavior and little need for sleep. Depression, on the other hand, is an abnormally low mood, with symptoms such as sadness, concentration problems, loss of self-esteem, fatigue, sleep disturbances and thoughts of death.
To be diagnosed with type one manic depression, the patient must have manic episodes with some incidences of depression. If the patient has mainly depression symptoms, with less severe mania symptoms, called hypomania, the diagnosis is type two manic depression. Cyclothymia is a type of manic depression with mild depression and hypomania. The NIH notes that patients with type two manic depression or cyclothymia may be misdiagnosed as having major depression.
Physical and Laboratory Tests
As part of the manic depression diagnosis, the doctor will run a series of physical and laboratory tests to rule out other causes, according to the NIH. The physical examination checks the patient's health, noting heart rate, blood pressure and lung function. The Mayo Clinic states the doctor may order laboratory tests, like thyroid tests, bloods tests and urinalysis.
Psychological Evaluation
Once other causes are ruled out, the doctor will perform a psychological evaluation. The Mayo Clinic states that the doctor will ask the patient about any behavior changes and feelings she has been having. Because manic depression involves mood swings between mania and depression, the doctor will ask the patient how long she has been experiencing the mood swings, the duration of the mood swings and which is the dominant mood. The patient will also be asked if she has a family history of manic depression. Some questions will pertain to alcohol and drug use, since certain substances can cause mood changes. The patient may need to fill out a psychological self-assessment questionnaire, where she rates her mood changes. If the patient is a minor, parents may provide additional information to the doctor.
