Mania and hypomania are mood disorders that involve periods of abnormally elevated mood, increased activity, and impulsive behaviour. While they share many similarities, they differ in severity, duration, and the extent of impact on daily functioning.
Mania
⦁ Duration: Lasts for 7 days or more.
⦁ Severity: Causes severe impairment in social or work life, often disrupting daily activities.
⦁ Hospitalization: May necessitate hospitalization due to potential harm to self or others.
⦁ Psychotic Symptoms: Often includes symptoms like delusions or hallucinations.
Hypomania
⦁ Duration: Typically lasts less than 7 days, usually around 3-4 days.
⦁ Severity: Less severe, allowing individuals to maintain social and work responsibilities.
⦁ Hospitalization: Rarely requires hospitalization.
⦁ Psychotic Symptoms: These are absent in hypomania.
Common Features of Mania and Hypomania
Both mania and hypomania can present with:
⦁ Mood Changes:
⦁ The mood can be excessively elevated or display intense irritability.
⦁ Behavioural Changes:
⦁ Decreased Need for Sleep: Insomnia without feeling tired or the need for sleep.
⦁ Reckless Behaviour: Engaging in impulsive activities such as risky financial decisions, sexual promiscuity, or other risk-taking actions.
⦁ Increased Appetite: A notable increase in appetite or food intake.
⦁ Speech and Thought Patterns:
⦁ Flight of Ideas: Jumping rapidly between different topics.
⦁ Pressure of Speech: Speaking very quickly with little to no pauses, often ignoring interruptions.
⦁ Poor Attention: Difficulty concentrating or staying on task.
Key Differences Between Mania and Hypomania
⦁ Mania: Includes psychotic symptoms (e.g., delusions, hallucinations), lasts longer than 7 days, and leads to significant impairment in functioning.
⦁ Hypomania: Does not include psychotic symptoms, has a shorter duration, and causes less impairment.
Management of Mania and Hypomania
⦁ Mood Stabilizers: Key treatment for bipolar disorder, with lithium being the most effective option.
⦁ Referral to Psychiatry: Patients presenting with alternating mood swings between mania and depression should be referred to psychiatry for specialized care.
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