Manic Episodes
Sunday, August 2nd, 2009The symptoms of manic episodes are described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) which is used for diagnosing mental illnesses. If a person has a manic episode as described by the DSM, the person is likely to be diagnosed with bipolar I disorder.
Manic episodes cause either an elevated mood or an irritable mood. In order to be considered a true manic episode, the abnormally elevated or irritable mood of manic episodes must either be present for at least one week or be severe enough to require hospitalization.
An elevated mood requires three other manic symptoms during the mood disturbance to be considered a manic episode. The presence of irritability needs to have four other manic symptoms to constitute a manic episode.
A common symptom of manic episodes is grandiosity or inflated self-esteem. Another symptom is a decreased need for sleep. Often, three hours seems like enough sleep during a manic episode.
Someone having a manic episode is often more talkative than usual. Another symptom of mania is racing thoughts or a flight of ideas. This symptom is often noticeable to other people.
Distractibility is another common symptom of mania. A person having a manic episode may have difficulty remaining focused on an activity or conversation. Involvement in goals and goal-related activities are often increased during a manic episode.
Many problems that a person has during a manic episode are associated with the last symptom of mania which is an increased involvement of pleasurable activities without considering the consequences. Someone in a manic episode may spend money excessively or become promiscuous due to that symptom.
Hallucinations and delusions can be caused by mania. The hallucinations and delusions reflect grandiosity. The person may believe they have a superpower or are chosen by a higher authority.
For these symptoms to be called a manic episode, they must be severe enough to interfere with the persons ability to function. Symptoms are not considered manic episodes if they are caused by drug use, medication, or caused by a medical condition.