[Diagnosis of mania. Disease picture and its psychological, physical and social sequelae].

While depression is a commonly discussed condition, mania is rarely mentioned. Subjectively, this disorder is associated with less incapacitating complaints, but it may have a more troublesome effect on the patient and the people around him than most mental illnesses. This article therefore presents a practice-oriented overview of the manic syndrome and its consequences: the term, its definition, age and sex distribution, mental and physical symptoms, psychosocial consequences, aspects of differential diagnosis, information for relatives and the family doctor, aspects of criminal and civil law, are discussed.