People suffering from manic depression experience radical shifts in mood, energy, and ability to function. This eMedTV resource discusses the cycles associated with the condition, including symptoms of manic episodes and depression episodes.
In general, manic depression symptoms are characterized by dramatic mood swings. This eMedTV resource explains the symptoms of this disorder in more detail, including how they can be mistaken for other problems.
There is no test for manic depression because the condition can't be detected through standardized tests. This eMedTV Web page does explain, however, the elements involved in diagnosing the illness, even if there is no test for it yet.
