Lecture 2.2: Mania and Bipolar Disorder

Symptoms of Mania

decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts, rapid speech, grandiosity (inflated self-esteem), and impulsive or risky behaviors like excessive spending

Duration: 1 week

Severity: Must interfere with social or occupational functioning

Symptoms of Hypomania

decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts, rapid speech, grandiosity (inflated self-esteem), and impulsive or risky behaviors like excessive spending

Duration: 4 days

Severity: Must be noticeable to others, but not severe enough to impair functioning or to require hospitalization

Why is it called bipolar disorder?

Often, patients’ experiences vary:

• Periods of very low mood (depression)

• Periods of high-energy and euphoria (mania)

• Mood shifts occur over the course of weeks or months, not within a day or two.

Bipolar 1

At least one manic episode

Depression not required, but could have a major depressive episode

Bipolar 2

At least one hypomanic episode

At least one major depressive episode

Cyclothymia

At least 2 years of hypomanic symptoms(no manic episodes)

At least 2 years of dysthymic symptoms (no major depressive episodes)

Exclusion Criteria & Specifiers for Bipolar Disorder

As is the case with depression disorders, individuals must experience clinical impairment or distress.

The symptoms cannot be:

• Due to a medical condition

• Due to substance use

Note that the specifiers are the same as for depressive disorders, except for one addition:

• Rapid cycling: at least 4 mood episodes in the past 12 months