Patients who are in the manic or depressive phase of the cycle are usually not dangerous to others, but living with them is not very easy. However, patients may become a danger to themselves if the condition is untreated: for instance, they can become undernourished through lack of time or will to eat.

The mania of manic depression will most certainly need psychiatric treatment, though hospitalization will only occur in extreme cases. Drugs will generally also be used, both to help lift any depression and to reduce the intensity of the manic episodes. In some cases, the moods are treated separately, using tricyclic anti-depressants or monomine oxidase inhibitors to control the depressive swings, and sedatives and tranquillizers to control episodes of mania.

Lithium carbonate has also been found to be beneficial because it stabilizes the ups and downs of the manic-depressive cycle. Different drugs have to be tried for suitability.

There is still much to be learned about manic depression, and it may be better to speak of treatment rather than cure. However, many people with the manic depression condition have learned to watch for early signs of moods swings and take appropriate medical action. In this way, they may be able to learn to cope successfully with the condition and lead a reasonably normal life.

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