Question:
Life for People with Manic-Depression medication?
Answer:
The following interesting and important information was taken from:
http://www.wpic.pitt.edu/STANLEY/images/othrnws/fdmda793.htm
The National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association (National DMDA) and the
American Psychiatric Association (APA) announced on May 24, 1993 the results of
the first ever comprehensive survey of people with manic-depression which
revealed that prompt medical diagnosis and treatment dramatically improve the
quality of life for those who have the illness.
However, the survey shows that even mental health professionals continue to have
trouble diagnosing the illness correctly which result in a variety of chronic
personal and professional difficulties for the more than three million Americans
with the disorder.
In manic depressive illness, also known as bipolar disorder, patients alternate
between periods of manic (intense "highs", racing thoughts, grandiose and
unrealistic plans and ideas) lasting weeks or months with even longer periods of
extreme, debilitating depression.
The significant study of the illness and its effect on the day to day lives of
people with the condition was presented at the American Psychiatric Association
Annual Meeting.
Sponsored jointly by the National DMDA and the APA, the study reports both good
and bad news in the fight against bipolar illness. On one hand the study finds
that, all too often and for too long a period of time, the illness goes
undetected or misdiagnosed. However, when correctly diagnosed and treated,
people with the illness can and do lead productive, fulfilling lives.
National DMDA Executive Director Susan Dime-Meenan calls the survey a milestone
on the road to a better understanding of manic-depressive illness. "For the
first time ever, people with bipolar illness are using their collective voice to
tell the psychiatric community and the world about their illness and how it
affects their lives," says Dime-Meenan. "The survey presents a clear call to
action for better and more rapid diagnosis of manic-depression."
The National DMDA/APA sponsored the random mail survey of 500 National DMDA
members diagnosed with bipolar illness to determine how their illness affected
their relationships, their marriages, their jobs, their schooling, and,
importantly, their self-esteem. The survey was conducted by the Wirthlin Group
and was funded by an educational grant from Abbott Laboratories.
The Diagnosis Dilemma
---------------------
According to the study's medical director, Dr. Peter Whybrow, professor and
chairman of the department of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania
School of Medicine, one of the most significant findings was the length of time
survey respondents reported before finding a medical professional who correctly
diagnosed their condition.
The study shows that too much time elapses between a patient's first symptoms
and when he is finally diagnosed with bipolar illness," says Dr. Whybrow. "While
the figures clearly demonstrates the importance of early diagnosis and
treatment, at the same time they show that early diagnosis and treatment are
actually quite rare."
The statistics tell the story. Quality of life improves dramatically when people
with manic-depression are effectively treated. However, in order for people to
manage their illness, they must first be correctly diagnosed and then receive
appropriate treatment, usually in the form of a combination of psychotherapy and
medication.
Fifty nine percent reported symptoms of the illness during adolescence or
before, but more than 50% did not receive help for five years or more.
An astonishing 37% say they had been misdiagnosed three or more times before
receiving a correct diagnosis.
Respondents saw an average of 3.3 physicians before being properly diagnosed.
"To solve the diagnosis dilemma, the attention of the entire medical community,
including psychiatrists, must be focused on the disorder," according to Carolyn
B. Rabinowitz, senior deputy medical director of the APA. "It is especially
important for primary care physicians to be aware of the possibility of
depressive disorders. All too often, the patient will only describe the physical
symptoms, such as fatigue or insomnia. If the physician recognizes that these
can be symptoms of a mood disorder, much unnecessary suffering can be avoided,"
says Rabinowitz.
Untreated Manic-Depression Damages Marriages, Relationships
-----------------------------------------------------------
Among the results reported was a picture of manic depression's devastating
affect on marriages, family, and social life when left untreated or improperly
treated.
Of the 500 people survey, 59% of respondents had failed relationships including
marriage when their illness was not properly managed, compared with only 32% who
reported similar experiences when their illness was being properly managed.
Of those surveyed, 50% reported that at least some of their family members
believed the illness had permanent, damaging effects on the family.
More than half of those surveyed reported having trouble maintaining long-term
relationships.
Manic-Depression in the Workplace
---------------------------------
Unmanaged bipolar illness was also shown to present career and on the job
hurdles for virtually all respondents.
More than a third were fired when their illness was not well managed.
Of those surveyed, 39% said they were given diminished responsibilities on the
job when their illness was not under control.
Nearly half reported they had been forced to stop working on the outside the
home for a period of time as a result of their bipolar illness.
Fifty-six percent of those surveyed said they were forced to change jobs more
frequently than their peers as a result of manic-depression.
Manic-Depression in Educational Settings
----------------------------------------
Of the respondents surveyed, those who displayed symptoms of manic-depression in
high school and college often had difficulty developing socially and
intellectually.
In High School
--------------
More than half of all respondents reported having symptoms of manic-depression
during high school, but only 3% say they were diagnosed with the disorder during
that time.
For those who experienced symptoms of the disorder during high school, 67%
reported difficulty socializing, 62% said they "had trouble making friends" and
67% reported an inability to concentrate on school work.
In College
----------
A large number of respondents reported their illness had been diagnosed, but was
still not being effectively managed. For this group, the illness had the
strongest negative impact on their education.
Nearly three-fourths showed symptoms of bipolar disorder during college. Of
these, an additional 29% reported having been diagnosed with bipolar illness. Of
those who were diagnosed, however, only 38% said their illness was effectively
managed at that time.
Forty-three percent of all respondents were college graduates and 27% went on to
complete post-graduate studies.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Bipolar Illness Causes Dramatic Improvements
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
With proper diagnosis and treatment of bipolar illness, survey respondents
reported dramatically greater success both in their personal and professional
lives.
With Treatment
--------------
The unstable relation/divorce rate dropped to nearly half, from 59% to 32%.
More than 80% of those surveyed strongly agreed that they were less likely to
change jobs as frequently.
The number of respondents who believed they were unable to work outside the home
as a result of their illness dropped by more than half, from 46% to 21%.
Only 18% of the respondents reported being fired from a job, compared with 44%
who had been fired during periods when their illness was not under control.
Bipolar Disorder is a Treatable Illness
---------------------------------------
While much remains to be done in the more timely and effective diagnosis of
manic-depression, the results of the survey clearly show that the condition is a
treatable illness. "This is striking to note since the majority of respondents
reported that symptoms of their illness began early in life, yet only a handful
were accurately diagnosed and appropriately treated," according to Dr. Robert
Hirshfield, professor and chairman of the department of psychiatry and
behavioral sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch and chairman of
the National DMDA Scientific Advisory Board. "The result is for far too many was
years of dashed hopes and ruined lives," he says.
Medication
----------
For the overwhelming majority of those surveyed, the currently available
therapies provide dramatic and often life-saving relief. Many report that
medication for the illness made a fundamental difference in their ability to
lead productive, fulfilling lives.
Survey results reveal that 93% of respondents use medication in the treatment of
their illness. Of that percentage, 90% report that medication is effective in
managing the illness and 83% said they were satisfied with their current
treatment.
Despite the overall satisfaction with their medication, people with bipolar
disorder do experience breakthroughs or recurring episodes of their illness. The
survey showed that 45% said they had experienced a breakthrough within the last
six months and 18% said they experience these episodes several times a year.
The survey found that those with frequent recurrences are less likely to be on
lithium, divalproex sodium, or carbamazepine and more likely to be on
antidepressants or anxiolytics.
Psychological and Psychosocial ...Great article, very informative, thanks for sharing it with us, it
definitely helps me understand how more needs to be done for those of us
suffering from this illness. Is there anything that websites can do to help
impliment some of these actions? Write to our congressman, or senator maybe?
just want to help out if I can. BTW where do you get these fabulous articles
of information? It sure couldn't hurt. I get so frustrated at times! However I did get a
letter yesterday from one of Texas' senators saying she agreed with my
opinion and voted down a bill that I was against. So maybe if enough
people were to get together and write or call their congressperson and
senators, we could collectively make a difference? I'm an information junkie. You would be surprised at what rattles around
in my so-called mind.
