Manic Depression: The Top Causes

There is no single cause that triggers manic depression. However, research suggests that manic depression can run in the family.

Bipolar disorder for example has several familial roots. Studies show that 50% of the patients diagnosed with this disorder have one parent suffering from the same condition. An identical twin is 43% more likely to suffer from the same condition with his sibling; while the non-identical twins only have 6% chances. If both parents have manic depression, the child has 50-75% chance of developing manic depression; whereas if there is only one parent who has this condition, the chance is only limited to 25%. Biological relatives on the first-degree with this condition increase the chance of developing either major depressive disorder or Bipolar I by 4-24% and Bipolar II by 1%-5%.

However, this information does not exclude the people with no family history.

Meanwhile, other research suggests that manic depression is triggered by external events.

Medication, drugs such as cocaine or methamphetamine, and drug abuse are believed to trigger the onset of manic depression.

Another cause may come from a viral infection.

Severe stress can also result in manic depression. Stressful working environments can contribute to the illness.

Significant events such as loss of a family member, family conflict, and breakup within a committed relationship are some of the other probable causes of manic depression.

Traumatic experiences during childhood that were not able to be processed and treated immediately can come out at any given point in an adult’s life.

An unhealthy environment can also contribute to the onset of manic depression.

Yet another probable cause of this type of depression is giving birth. Many mothers would experience postpartum depression as part of the manic depression.

One other possible theory is that bipolar disorder can be the result of imbalances in the neurotransmitters- the chemicals that controls the functions of the brain. It is believed that when the levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and/or acetylcholine are too high, manic episodes can happen. And when some of these neurotransmitters drop below the normal, depression can happen.

However, the exact effects of these neurotransmitters to the onset of manic depression are still not precise since it is not determined whether the imbalances in the neurotransmitters cause manic depression or the manic depression causes neurotransmitters to drop their levels.

Other scientists believe that extreme emotion can cause manic depression. This is because the brain cells die prematurely and cause the brain the ability to dictate the mood.

It should be noted though that when a person experiences mood swing, he or she does not automatically qualify to have manic depression.

There are some symptoms similar to manic depression, which are actually caused by other medical conditions. These conditions make it more difficult to identify whether or not the patient really has manic depression. These are:

•           Sodium imbalance

•           Seizures

•           Head trauma

•           AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)

•           Systemic lupus erythematosus

•           Thyroid problem

•           Brain tumor

•           Neurosyphilis

There are also other psychiatric conditions that show similar effects to manic disorder. These are:

•           Panic disorder

•           Social phobia

•           Anorexia nervosa

•           Posttraumatic stress disorder

•           Delusional disorder

•           Bulimia nervosa

•           Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

•           Schizophrenia

•           Schizoaffective disorder

Summing up, environmental, biological, genetic, stress and behavioral factors can contribute to the onset of manic depression.