Chronic mania. Family history, prior course,
clinical picture and social consequences
by
Perugi G, Akiskal HS, Rossi L, Paiano A,
Quilici C, Madaro D, Musetti L, Cassano GB
Institute of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Italy.
Br J Psychiatry 1998 Dec; 173:514-8

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Mania with chronic course has been overlooked in the recent literature. Our aim was clinically to characterise and validate this form of mania. METHOD: We evaluated 155 people with DSM-III-R mania and assessed their family history, temperament, symptomatology and course. We used a semi-structured interview for mood disorders, as well as the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale and the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms. RESULTS: Twenty (13%) had a chronic course arising from a background of hyperthymic temperament and recurrent mania, with a deteriorative pattern. Clinically, they were characterised by a significantly high rate of almost constant euphoria, grandiose delusions and related delusions, but had relatively low rates of sleep disturbance, psychomotor agitation and hypersexuality. CONCLUSION: Even with current therapies a significant number of people with bipolar disorders have a deteriorative outcome associated with the gradual disappearance of acute mania with an increase in megalomanic delusions, alienation from loved ones and decreased likelihood of medical and psychiatric care.

Mania
Lithium
Bipolar II
Clozapine
Tamoxifen
Gabapentin
Lamotrigine
Manic Mouse
Chronic mania
Lithium advert
Bipolar disorders
Drugs for bipolars
Lithium prophylaxis
Mania: medications
The manic spectrum
Schizoaffective disorder
The many faces of mania
Treatment of acute mania
Genius and psychopathology
Ouabain-induced rodent mania?
Mania: lithium versus divaplroex
Mood-lifting opioid analgesics for bipolars
Dysthymia, hyperthymia and cyclothymia
Pain, motivation, pleasure and the rostral shell
Mania and emotional intensity / hyper-reactivity

Refs
and further reading

HOME
HedWeb
Nootropics
cocaine.wiki
Future Opioids
BLTC Research
MDMA/Ecstasy
Superhapiness?
Utopian Surgery?
The Abolitionist Project
The Hedonistic Imperative
The Reproductive Revolution
Critique of Huxley's Brave New World

The Good Drug Guide
The Responsible Parent's Guide
To Healthy Mood Boosters For All The Family