## Definition - A distinct period of **abnormally elevated, expansive, or irritable mood** with **increased energy or goal-directed activity**. - Severe enough to cause significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. - May necessitate **hospitalization** or involve **psychotic features**. ## Core Features - Duration: **At least 7 consecutive days** (or any duration if hospitalization is required). - Marked deviation from typical behavior and functioning. - Symptoms observable and disruptive. ## Common Symptoms - Inflated self-esteem or **grandiosity** - Decreased need for sleep (feeling rested after 2-3 hours) - Excessive talkativeness, pressured speech - Racing thoughts, flight of ideas - Distractibility - Increased goal-directed activities (social, sexual, work-related) or purposeless activity (pacing, hand-wringing) - Excessive involvement in risky activities (spending sprees, sexual indiscretions, foolish investments) ## Psychotic Features (Possible) - **Delusions** (grandeur, persecution) - **Hallucinations** (less common than in psychotic disorders) - **Disorganized thinking** ## Distinction from [[Hypomania]] | Feature | Mania | Hypomania | | ----------------- | -------------------------- | ---------------- | | Duration | 7+ days or hospitalization | 4+ days | | Severity | Severe, impairing | Mild/moderate | | Psychosis | Possible | Absent | | Functional Impact | Significant impairment | Minimal/moderate | | Hospitalization | Often required | Rare | ## Role in Diagnosis - Required for diagnosing [[Bipolar Disorder|Bipolar I Disorder]] - Not necessary for [[Bipolar Disorder|Bipolar II Disorder]] (which requires [[Hypomania]]) - Can occur with or without prior [[Depression]] ## Risks - Financial, legal, and relational damage due to impulsivity - Aggression or risky behavior leading to harm - Vulnerability to burnout, exhaustion, and crash into severe [[Depression]] ## Treatment - **Mood Stabilizers**: [[Lithium]], [[Valproate]], [[Carbamazepine]] - **Atypical Antipsychotics**: e.g., [[Olanzapine]], [[Risperidone]] - **Benzodiazepines** (short-term for agitation) - Hospitalization when safety is compromised - Long-term [[psychotherapy]] for insight and management ## Related Concepts - [[Hypomania]] - [[Bipolar Disorder|Bipolar I Disorder]] - [[Psychosis]] - [[Impulse Control]] - [[Emotional Dysregulation]] ## Notable Quotes - "Mania feels like having a rocket engine strapped to your chest—with no off switch." ## References - American Psychiatric Association. (2013). _DSM-5: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders_. - Goodwin, F. K., & Jamison, K. R. (2007). _Manic-Depressive Illness: Bipolar Disorders and Recurrent [[Depression]]_.