Mania and Hypomania

Question 1

What is the general difference between mania and hypomania?

Answer 1

Hypomania is a lesser version of mania. Hypomania usually doesn’t functionally impair the individual while mania does.

Question 2

What are the symptoms present in both hypomania and mania?

Answer 2

Mood - elevated, irritable
Speech and thought - pressured speech, flight of ideas, poor attention
Behaviour - insomnia, loss of inhibition, increased appetite

Question 3

What are the key distinguishing features of mania?

Answer 3

Last for at least 7 days
Causes severe functional impairment in social and work setting
May require hospitalisation due to risk of harm to self or others
May present with PSYCHOTIC symptoms (e.g. hallucinations)

Question 4

What are the key distinguishing features of hypomania?

Answer 4

Lasts for <7 days, typically 3-4
Can be high functioning and doesn’t impair functional capacity in social/work setting
Unlikely to require hospitalisation
No psychotic symptoms