# Is there an opposite to depression? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 26, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425 "2003-06-26T01:56:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WILLASS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WILLASS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WILLASS)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/1 "2003-06-26T01:56:41Z")
I have been reading a thread that is about manic-depression and got to wondering whether anyone has ever been diagnosed with the opposite of depression? I would have thought that if its possible to have an imbalance of chemicals that makes you sad would it not be reasonable to have some people who have the opposite, maybe an overproductive serotonin gland (or wherever it comes from) that results in them being really happy all the time maybe to the point where it affects their life negativley? If so does it have a name? ---
**Author:** ![Xgemina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b5e925/32.png) [@Xgemina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xgemina)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/2 "2003-06-26T01:59:33Z")
I believe what you’re looking for is mania. I cannot remember the exact DSM-IV designation, but, yes, it exists. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/3 "2003-06-26T02:00:51Z")
Sure- hypomania,& if to a more extreme-mania. The latter can include delusions & hallucinations. Also, cyclothymia is a more"neurotic" form of bi-polar disorder-the highs not as high & lows not as low. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/4 "2003-06-26T02:00:59Z")
Euphoria? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/5 "2003-06-26T02:01:14Z")
You mentioned it in your own OP. Manic-depressives suffer a bipolar disorder, one half of which is depression. The other half is the opposite, _mania_, characterized by excitablility and excessive enthusiasm. ---
**Author:** ![WILLASS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WILLASS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WILLASS)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/6 "2003-06-26T02:07:42Z")
what about a disorder that is basically a constant never ending state of happiness with no bad stuff at all but really, really extreme happiness so it feels like you’ve been trepanned or are on ecstasy. Does that exist? I cant really see how it would get diagnosed because why would you go to the doctor? ‘Hey doc, I should be worried but i’m not because i’m constantley totally jazzed! life is great! can you help me?’ ---
**Author:** ![kunoichi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4da419/32.png) [@kunoichi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kunoichi)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/7 "2003-06-26T02:12:08Z")
Well I would bet it’s only a problem if you become so annoying to less perky people that they murder you 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Agback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/977dab/32.png) [@Agback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agback)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/8 "2003-06-26T02:22:33Z")
G’day In 90% or so of cases of depression, the problem is functional, not organic. The problem is treated much better with cognitive-behavioural therapy than with drugs (CBT almost eliminates relapse: ie. it effects a cure, not just a palliation). So it is inaccurate to suppose that depression is caused by imbalances in brain chemistry. As for the remaining 10% or less of depressive patients (for who as far as anyone knows at present neurotransmitter problems _are_ primary), we are all more or less bistable. The depressed state actually varies quite a lot from patient to patient. And the complementary state varies from raving mania with disordering of thoughts, delusions, and hallucinations (Type I bipolar disorder) in a more-or-less continuous spectrum down to a hypo-manic state marked by euphoria, energy, enthusiasm, and improved or at least accelerated cognitive function (Type II bipolar disorder). So the word you are looking for might be ‘euphoria’, ‘hypomania’, or ‘mania’, depending on hhow marked the condition was and how badly is screwed up your mental processes. I’d stick with ‘euphoria’ if I were you, because you’re less likely to be given lithium for euphoria. By the way, I am a little puzzled by what you say about being trepanned. Why would drilling a hole through your skull make you feel euphoric? Because of the painkillers, perhaps? Regards, Agback ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/9 "2003-06-26T02:50:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WILLASS \* > \*\*what about a disorder that is basically a constant never ending state of happiness with no bad stuff at all but really, really extreme happiness so it feels like you’ve been trepanned or are on ecstasy. Does that exist? \*\* Yep - hypomania - it is a “disorder” seldom seen in clinic. As you say, people typically don’t complain about an elevated mood. However, the true “opposite” of hypomania would be dysthemia - a reduced mood for at least a 2 year duration - not sad enough to be clinically depressed, but sad. The polar opposite of depression would be mania, as other posters have suggested. And **Agback** - I believe your 90% figure to be a huge overestimation. Researchers are unsure about what causes depression, and are unsure about how anti-depressant medication works, and I’m therefore, reluctant to believe that someone has come out and said “For 90% of depression patients, it’s all in their head!” Also, anti-depressive medication are _AS_ effective as treating depression as CB therapy, both being effective in about 67% of patients. When you combine drug therapy with CB therapy, effacacy rates increase to about 80%. Perhaps this is a different perspective in various world communities. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/10 "2003-06-26T03:18:14Z")
alice-dysthymia is a form of clinical depression. Meaning focus of medical attention & causing dysphoria, or impairment in function. Dysthymia is no longer an Axis I diagnosis in the DSM IV TR. It is now called dysthymic disorder(since 1994), & earlier neurotic depression. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/11 "2003-06-26T03:31:46Z")
So is it an Axis II diagnosis? (I haven’t read the TR yet.) ---
**Author:** ![WILLASS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WILLASS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WILLASS)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/12 "2003-06-26T03:52:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Agback \* > \*\*G’day > > By the way, I am a little puzzled by what you say about being trepanned. Why would drilling a hole through your skull make you feel euphoric? Because of the painkillers, perhaps? > > Agback \*\* Apperantley trepannation leaves you with a life long feeling of euphoria, I dont know why though. ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/13 "2003-06-26T05:26:34Z")
Trepannation leaves you with a lifelong feeling of euphoria, or just a skull hole. It kind of depents. Why would mania be bad? Well, depression doesn’t just make poeple feel bad, it makes them unable to make reasonable choices and rational responses. Same deal with the opposite state. **Alice** Would you mind giving a cite for > [@](#): > > Also, anti-depressive medication are AS effective as treating depression as CB therapy, both being effective in about 67% of patients Everything I’ve read indicates that behavior therapy has a better track record… not that that convinces me of much! A depression diagnosis covers so much, after all. If there was a blood plasma test, or a scan, or a treadmill test for depression, it would be easier to compare! ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/14 "2003-06-26T05:55:05Z")
alice-no, Axis I. All of the usual signs & symptoms of major depression, just not as disabling. Except dysthymic disorder never has psychotic symptoms. Axis II is for personality disorders ,maladtive personality features, & mental retardation,only. Any of the mood disorders goes on Axis I. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/15 "2003-06-26T07:28:47Z")
Agback: > [@](#): > > In 90% or so of cases of depression, the problem is functional, not organic. Agback, if you know that to be a fact, please share what laboratory tests are capable of detecting depression? That would be the only way to know _for certain_ that the depression is or is not chemically based. As it stands now, doctors don’t know whether depression causes the chemical imbalance or the chemical imbalance causes depression. But the most successful treatments for depression currently are SSRI and electro-convulsive shock – often coupled with therapy but not always.[/hijack] Does anyone know if a manic state always coupled with a depressive state as in bi-polar disorder? ---
**Author:** ![legion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@legion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legion)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/16 "2003-06-26T09:23:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WILLASS \* > \*\*what about a disorder that is basically a constant never ending state of happiness with no bad stuff at all but really, really extreme happiness so it feels like you’ve been trepanned or are on ecstasy. Does that exist? I cant really see how it would get diagnosed because why would you go to the doctor? ‘Hey doc, I should be worried but i’m not because i’m constantley totally jazzed! life is great! can you help me?’ \*\* You mean like Jehovah’s Witnesses? ---
**Author:** ![refusal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@refusal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/refusal)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/17 "2003-06-26T10:36:35Z")
> [@](#): > > What interventions work best to treat depression? Recent evidence suggests that psychological interventions (especially cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy) are at least as effective as pharmacotherapy in treating depression, even if severe, especially when patient-rated measures are used and long-term follow-up is considered (Antonuccio et al., 1995; DeRubeis et al., 1999). [Psychiatric Times, August 2000.](http://psychiatrictimes.com/p000824.html) (References cited in the quote above: Antonuccio DO, Danton WG, DeNelsky GY (1995), Psychotherapy versus medication for depression: challenging the conventional wisdom with data. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice 26(6):574-585. DeRubeis RJ, Gelfand LA, Tang TZ, Simons AD (1999), Medications versus cognitive behavior therapy for severely depressed outpatients: mega-analysis of four randomized comparisons. Am J Psychiatry 156(7):1007-1013.) ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/18 "2003-06-26T11:12:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WILLASS \* > \*\*what about a disorder that is basically a constant never ending state of happiness with no bad stuff at all but really, really extreme happiness so it feels like you’ve been trepanned or are on ecstasy. Does that exist? I cant really see how it would get diagnosed because why would you go to the doctor? ‘Hey doc, I should be worried but i’m not because i’m constantley totally jazzed! life is great! can you help me?’ \*\* Naguib Mahfouz wrote a short story about a man who woke up one morning and realized he was happy. He stayed happy all through the day. He wondered if this was cause for concern. He went to the doctor to get it checked. The doctor told him there was no known cure for his condition, but with proper treatment it might eventually be brought under control. This story was a brilliant piece of deadpan satire.😃 ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/19 "2003-06-26T13:44:47Z")
\>\> Why would drilling a hole through your skull make you feel euphoric? Has someone tried this at home? Can I get some details? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Phage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a4c791/32.png) [@Phage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phage)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425/20 "2003-06-26T13:45:46Z")
**WILLASS** , I read an account of someone who trepanned himself for similarly hazy reasons. He did indeed feel happier and able to think more clearly, but in the end he determined that this was probably due to him quitting his regular use of marijuana. Trepanation has clearly defined medical benefits, most if not all revolving around making a hole in someone’s skull. It is not a free ticket to Nirvana. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-opposite-to-depression/184425.md?page=2)