Doctors are asking people to seek medical help if they are showing symptoms of manic depression, particularly during times of financial upheaval.

Manic depression, or bipolar affective disorder, is a kind of psychiatric diagnosis caused by inheritance and stress.

The incidence rate of the mood disorder in Hong Kong is about 3.6 percent, according to a recent survey conducted between March and September by the Society for the Advancement of Bipolar Affective Disorder.

The group asked 986 patients chosen from 11 clinics to complete its questionnaire - a tool for community screening of manic disorder.

It was also found that bipolar affective disorder is usually mixed with depression.

When patients are depressed, it's easy to misdiagnose manic depression, group Chairman Mak Ki-yan said at a press conference yesterday.

Council member Law Sai-on added that the condition can deteriorate if manic patients are mistreated with anti-depressant medication.

Patients with manic depression are often in a bad mood for long time, but with short-term agitation. They gain or lose weight suddenly, and cannot sleep well and concentrate.

Some may become very risk-taking, such indulging in investments or gambling, while some may rely on drugs or alcohol.

Because of this, patients' daily lives, their family and their jobs are often affected.

Mr Chan, who declined to reveal his identity, has a history of manic depression lasting more than 30 years.

"When I was emotionally high, I would keep talking or even use foul language. I also bought lots of unnecessary proprietary Chinese medicines, because I felt something wrong with my body that was not true," the 54-year-old man recalled.

The disease also made him reckless, as he often lost his temper at his wife, straining the marriage.

Nevertheless, he would feel indifferent to everything while in a depressive mood. "I always felt tired but could not fall asleep. I was also anxious about my work performance," he said.

Yet he was not diagnosed with the disease until he sought help from Law three years ago. Since then, his condition has become more stable with treatment.

Law reiterated that environmental factors, such as the current poor economy, can create stress in people who may be prone to manic disorder.

Mak added: "Manic disorder is curable, so people don't have to get worried, but they should seek medical consultation as early as symptoms appear".

(HK Edition 11/25/2008 page1)