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What can Cause a Manic State?

Patti Kate
Patti Kate

There are several conditions that can cause a manic state, including bipolar disorder, sometimes known as manic depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and dementia. Other forms of mental illness and psychosis, such as paranoid schizophrenia can cause a manic state. The use of narcotics or substances such as herbal medications have been known to induce a manic state in certain individuals. Diseases and medical conditions such as lupus or even sleep disorders can cause a manic state if left untreated.

Bipolar and manic depression can result in symptoms that lead to a manic state consisting of delusions. The individual may be out of touch with reality and exhibit a manic type of paranoia. Violent tendencies are not uncommon, and the patient may become aggressive or provocative.

People with bipolar disorder may experience symptoms that can lead to a manic and delusional state..
People with bipolar disorder may experience symptoms that can lead to a manic and delusional state..

When elderly patients suffering from advanced stages of dementia do not receive medical intervention, they can exhibit manic behavior. The manic phase of an advanced stage dementia patient may manifest in extreme paranoid tendencies. The patient may become accusatory or believe others are posing an unfounded threat to him. The sensory perception of a person in the advanced stages of dementia may be abnormally misconstrued. Other signs of mania in a dementia patient would be suicidal tendencies or violent aggression.

Patients with some types of schizophrenia exhibit symptoms of mania.
Patients with some types of schizophrenia exhibit symptoms of mania.

Patients suffering from certain forms of schizophrenia may exhibit symptoms of manic behavior that manifests in hallucinations and extreme paranoia. The patient may feel persecuted with no reasoning to justify his thoughts. This manic state can lead to intense feelings of anger or depression. The patient may become violent in some manic stages, although this is not always typical behavior. During a manic phase, the patient may also exhibit a catatonic-type behavior, showing no emotion or expression.

Elderly patients with dementia may exhibit manic behavior.
Elderly patients with dementia may exhibit manic behavior.

Certain drugs can induce symptoms of a manic state. Some of these drugs may be prescription drugs, while others may be illicit. Amphetamines, which are a stimulant drug, can cause irrational thoughts and extreme anxiety. These drugs can make an individual extremely agitated, excitable, and hyper.

Lysergic acid diethylamide (commonly known as LSD) is a psychedelic drug known for inducing irrational thoughts, delusions and hallucinations that can be typified as manic behavior. A person under the influence of LSD may lose touch with reality and become dangerously violent, or harbor extremely obscure thoughts and reasoning. The individual using this drug may see objects, see colors, even smell odors that do not exist. All of these reactions contribute to a manic state.

Discussion Comments

aviva

@bfree - I think it really depends on the person and the severity of the hallucination. Some people can recall an entire event or conversation.

Others might only remember bits and pieces, while still others may not remember any of their manic bipolar symptoms.

babylove

I have a friend that falls into schizophrenia episodes every now and then. Some things she can remember in very vivid detail like mosaic images or having a conversation with a childhood friend.

Some things she can’t remember at all like when she drove two hundred miles to visit her aunt who had actually died a year earlier.

She recalls always feeling a sense of fear like she’s being watched or followed.

She has a lot of trouble organizing and deciphering her thoughts during these episodes so I guess it would make it difficult to remember everything. It’s really quite bizarre and somewhat fascinating where the mind goes when they get in this state.

bfree

Back in college I did a research paper on bipolar causes and how the symptoms can escalate into schizophrenia.

Because most of my research was focused on the symptoms of bipolar, I never really touched on the after effects of it.

Do you think people recall their thoughts and actions from a schizophrenic episode?

goldensky

Well this certainly explains the manic episode a good buddy of mine went through a few years ago. Wow, he had all the signs of bipolar in its manic state if ever there were any.

The poor guy literally thought he had federal agents living in his attic monitoring every move he and his family made. I remember the subdivision he lived in was a one way in one way out community. He thought every black SUV coming in was one of those agents.

For months his kids weren’t allowed to ride the bus to school and his wife wasn’t even allowed to have pizza delivered to their home.

It was a crazy time following him around every where he went, spending nights in strange hotels and driving around for hours upon hours because he was too afraid to go home.

Eventually he moved away and even though we kind of lost touch these last few years, some mutual friends of ours have informed that he’s doing all right.

He somehow managed to keep his business going and remain with his family. He was always a real smart guy, it’s a shame what happened to him back there.

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    • People with bipolar disorder may experience symptoms that can lead to a manic and delusional state..
      By: Phase4Photography
      People with bipolar disorder may experience symptoms that can lead to a manic and delusional state..
    • Patients with some types of schizophrenia exhibit symptoms of mania.
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      Patients with some types of schizophrenia exhibit symptoms of mania.
    • Elderly patients with dementia may exhibit manic behavior.
      By: Halfpoint
      Elderly patients with dementia may exhibit manic behavior.
    • Bipolar and manic depression can result in symptoms that lead to a manic state consisting of delusions.
      By: Kablonk Micro
      Bipolar and manic depression can result in symptoms that lead to a manic state consisting of delusions.
    • A manic state can affect a person's sleep patterns.
      By: vlorzor
      A manic state can affect a person's sleep patterns.
    • Job loss might cause a manic state.
      By: jivan child
      Job loss might cause a manic state.