The History of the Treatment of Manic Depression

The History of the Treatment of Manic Depression

The treatment of manic depression has changed through the years. This essay

will compare the view and treatment of manic depression in the sixties, to the view and

treatment now. The mental illness of manic depression, and it's treatment and diagnosis,

will be explained and detailed.

Diagnosing manic depression has been a hard task for doctors. In the sixties,

rarely were people treated, or even diagnosed for manic depression. It was not until the

nineteen- seventies that Lithium, a mood stabler for manics, was introduced. Manic

depression was not easily detected. Most doctors attributed the dramatic mood swings to

puberty or the state of adolescence. Most commonly, the patient was told to snap out of

it or given some form of an anti-depressant. Many people started to self medicate in the

sixties with the various drugs that were floating around. There were medications and

treatments, but none specifically geared toward manic depression. The most common

medications were Thorazine, various tranquilizers, Meprobamate (Miltown), Librium,

and Diazepam (Valium). The most common treatment was psychotherapy or talk

therapy. If your symptoms or actions were severe, most likely you were labeled mad or

insane and institutionalized. Even if you got better the stigma of once being insane

haunted you when trying to lead a normal life.

Since the nineties, the diagnosing of mania has become increasingly easier. CT's

and MRI scans show abnormalities and changes in brain waves to aid in diagnosis.

Mania is now treatable with Lithium, anti-convulsants, and therapeutic intervention.

There are now support groups and other help for people. Many people are still

hospitalized, but the conditions are much better. People are no longer labeled as insane.

It is an issue that many people are trying to understand. There are still those who are

ignorant, and the stigma of mental illness is still there.

Manic depression, in most cases, is treatable and people with it can live