MANIA

Course overview

MANIA IS A PERIOD OF 1 WEEK OR MORE IN WHICH A PERSON EXPERIENCES A CHANGE IN NORMAL BEHAVIOR THAT DRASTICALLY AFFECTS THEIR FUNCTIONING. MANIA CAN BE DISTINGUISHED FROM HYPOMANIA IN THAT HYPOMANIA DOES NOT CAUSE A MAJOR DEFICIT IN SOCIAL OR OCCUPATIONAL FUNCTIONING, AND INVOLVES A PERIOD OF AT LEAST 4 DAYS RATHER THAN AT LEAST 1 WEEK. THE DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS OF MANIA INCLUDE INCREASED TALKATIVENESS, RAPID SPEECH, A DECREASED NEED FOR SLEEP, RACING THOUGHTS, DISTRACTIBILITY, INCREASE IN GOAL-DIRECTED ACTIVITY, AND PSYCHOMOTOR AGITATION. SOME OTHER HALLMARKS OF MANIA ARE AN ELEVATED OR EXPANSIVE MOOD, MOOD LABILITY, IMPULSIVITY, IRRITABILITY, AND GRANDIOSITY. THIS ACTIVITY ILLUSTRATES THE CLINICAL FEATURES OF MANIA, REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND DIAGNOSIS, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE MANAGEMENT OF AFFECTED PATIENTS.