Manic depression is a major illness which affects your moods and feelings. It can affect anyone. The disorder usually occurs before a person reaches the age of 30 years but can occur at any time of life. It affects approximately 30,000 New Zealanders. Everyone has mood changes in their lives but in manic depression these changes come out of the blue and are much more extreme and very hard to predict.
Most people lead a normal life when they are well.
The cause is unknown. There may be an inherited component because it tends to run in familites, however in some cases there is no family history. It may also be a chemical change which interferes with the messages which are sent to the brain. In some people it is worse in times of stress and in different seasons of the year. Early diagnosis is important so that correct treatment can be started at once.