manic depression

British  

noun

1. a mental health problem characterized by an alternation between extreme euphoria and deep depression

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Usage

Though manic depression, manic-depressive are still often used by the general public, they are seen as having negative connotations. The preferred terms nowadays are bipolar disorder and experiencing bipolar disorder

Example Sentences

But when he was young, his father died; his mother was institutionalized with a diagnosis of manic depression, and he and his younger brother were effectively left to fend for themselves.

From New York Times • Jun. 14, 2024

It used to be known as manic depression, and symptoms include episodes of:

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2024

Lichtenstein, who runs a media production company in Boston, was an investigative reporter for ABC News when he fell ill with manic depression in 1986.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 20, 2023

He was “struggling with manic depression when he died,” according to a news release provided to The Times.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 17, 2023

We can’t go back in time and diagnose him, but from here it looks like a form of epilepsy or, most likely, the beginnings of bipolar disorder, which is also known as manic depression.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman