Mania

In Medical Jurisprudence. The most common of all forms of insanity. Consisting in a condition of exaltation which affects the emotion and intellect, and which expresses itself by increased activity, mental and physical. 3 Witth. & Beck. A chronic affection of the brain, ordinarily without fever, characterized by the perturbation and exaltation of the sensibilities, the intelligence, and will.

Esqulrol.

A condition of exaltation which aifects the emotions and the Intellect, and expresses itself by increased activity, — mental and physical.

3 Witth. & Beck. Med. Jur. 250.

A condition in which the perversion of the understanding embraces ail kinds of objects and is accompanied with a genei-al mental excitement.

In re Gannon’s Will, 2 Misc. 320, 21 N. Y. Supp. 960.

It is in one form mere excitement, or this may have developed into the other, — frenzy. It is the reverse of melancholia, and as well developed as the depression of the latter, is the opposite feeling which characterizes the former; id. An insanity In which there is general exaltation of the mental, sensory, and motor functions.

1 Clevenger, Med. Jur. of Insan. 953.

Two toms or degrees are usually recognized: Mania with exaltation, and mania with frenzy; It Is the exact opposite of melancholia and shows a rapid succession of ideas, never a fixed idea. Monomanias are now classed as physical degenerations and arc not considered with mania proper, which Is described as a functional neurosis or a disease without a pathological basis. Manias, further, may be acute or chronic; In the former, an actual frenzy is the condition; In the latter, some more or less fixed delusion Is present, the result of the previous delusional state; there being no attempt, however, in Intercourse with another person, to prove the truth of the delusional beliefs. It would appear to be of easy diagnosis, but the excitent of other forms of insanity is constantly mistaken for that of simple mania. The beginning is very gradual, and weeks, months, or even years of bad health may precede an outbreak, and the mental explosion is usually unexpected. Id. either believes In occurrences that never did and never could take place, or his sentiments, affections, and emotions are so perverted that whatever excites their activity is viewed through a distorting medium, or, which is the most common fact, both these conditions may exist together, in which case their relative share In the disease may differ in such degree that one or the other may scarcely be perceived at all. In mania, excepting that form of It called raving, it is not to be understood that the mind is Irrational on every topic, but rather that it is the sport of vagije and shifting delusions, or, where these are not manifest, has lost all nicety of intellectual discernment, and the ability to perform any continuous process of thought with its customary steadiness and correctness. It is usually accompanied by feelings of estrangement or indifference towards those who at other times were objects of affection and interest. A common feature of the disease is either more or less nervous exaltation, manifested by loquacity, turbulencd, and great muscular activity, or depression. Indicated by silence, gloom, painful apprehensions, and thoughts of self-destruction. Mania is usually a growth, rather than a sudden development (though sometimes the latter), and its Incipient stages are characterized by more or less of morbid depression, or, in some cases, irritability. Then follows a period of restless but undirected and uhconcentrated activity. Delusions and hallucinations are common, and may extend to an entire change of personality. The physical condition, like the mental, indicates early an appearance of vigor with excessive appetite; and the use of alcoholic stimulants, while not in itself a cause, may hasten the attack, so that in many cases which resemble alcoholic mania it is found that the mental disorder preceded the drinking. Itv is said that “there is always, however, finally a failure of nutrition with loss of flesh, the tongue becomes coated and the bowels are constipated. The pulse may be somewhat rapid, but frequently, even during great excitement, there is little change, it often being slow and small. Insomnia is a marked symptom, days passing without sleep despite the ceaseless activity. There is one peculiarity about this constant activity, in that there seems to be no sense of fatigue accompanying it. There is, in fact, apparently a cerebral anaesthesia. This applies also to pain perception, as exposure to cold does not seem to be recognized, and even painful operations can be carried on without apparent suffering. Acts of self-mutilation, which are especially common where sexual disturbance is associated with the mania, are often done, which are harrowing in the extreme and yet are not appreciated by the patient.”

8 Wltth. & Beck. Med. Jur. 251.

This form of mental disorder may be acute with frenzy and raving, in which case there is entire mental confusion and delirium; or it may be chronic in which case there is usually some more or less settled delusion with periodic excitability easily aroused and liable quickly to subside. “There is almost always associated with this condition a generally happy-go-lucky state of mind. There is in fact more or less dementia (q, v,), the state toward which all cases tend which do not end in recovery.”

Id, 263.

With respect to the effect of this form of mental disorder, whether, general or partial, upon criminal responsibility and civil incapacity, see Insanity. See DipsomaniX; Erotic Mania; Kleptomania; Morphinomania; Pryomania; Monomania.