Recognizing Recurrence of a Manic Episode

Call me if you note either A, or B, or C, or D:

A. Mood abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable for 2 or 3 days and

B. During this period of mood disturbance, at least 2 or 3 of the following symptoms have persisted (3 or 4 if the mood is only irritable) and have been present to a significant degree:

• Inflated self-esteem, or belief of having Special Powers 

• Decreased need for sleep, or feeling rested after only 4 hours of sleep

• More talkative than usual, or pressure to keep talking

• Subjective experience that thoughts are racing, or flight of ideas

• Attention too easily drawn to unimportant or irrelevant matters, or distractibility

• Increase in goal-directed activity (such as socially, at work, at school, or sexually), or psychomotor agitation

• Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities which have a high potential for painful consequences, or unrestrained buying sprees, or sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments

C. Mood disturbance sufficiently severe to cause impairment in functioning at work; or in usual social activities, or in 
relationships with others. 

D. Need treatment in the hospital to prevent harm to self or others.

For further related articles see Answers for Families and Patients:

• Bipolar Disorder (Manic-depressive Illness) In Teens  [In Preparation]
• Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation  (Open New Window)
• Manic Games  (Open New Window)
• Normality   (Open New Window)

See also:

• Your Child (1998 Harper Collins)
• Your Adolescent (1999 Harper Collins)

Back to Answers for Families and Patients
Back to Home Page