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A manic episode is a period of abnormally elevated, expansive, or irritable mood and heightened energy or activity. It’s a defining feature of bipolar disorder. Symptoms include increased self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, talkativeness, racing thoughts, distractibility, increased goal-directed activity, and risky behavior. An episode can impair judgment and social functioning.Manic episodes usually begin abruptly and last between 2 weeks and 4-5 months (median duration of about four months).
A manic episode is a period of abnormally elevated, expansive, or irritable mood and heightened energy or activity. It’s a defining feature of bipolar disorder. Symptoms include increased self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, talkativeness, racing thoughts, distractibility, increased goal-directed activity, and risky behavior. An episode can impair judgment and social functioning.
Manic episodes usually begin abruptly and last between 2 weeks and 4-5 months (median duration of about four months).
A manic episode is a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting at least 1 week. This condition affects about 1% of the population and is usually associated with bipolar disorder or manic depression.
Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is amood disorderwhere an individual will experience extreme mood swings, including emotional highs (mania orhypomania) and lows (depression).
Withdepression, an individual may experience feelings of hopelessness and lose interest or pleasure in many activities. When the mood shifts to mania, this individual may feel euphoric, intense energy, or irritable.
People who experience mania may also experience signs psychosis, including hallucinations anddelusions, indicating separation from real life.
Mania can be a dangerous condition as those experiencing an episode may not be able to sleep or eat. They may also engage in more risky behaviors or harm themselves.
The signs of mania can last for around a week or more. They can only be diagnosed if the signs of mania are significantly different from the usual behavior of an individual.
Family history may play a factor in somebody experiencing mania, as it has been found that those with parents or siblings with this condition are more likely to experience a manic episode.
As previously stated, mania could also be a sign of another mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder. Likewise, environmental changes could also be a trigger for mania.
This can include stressful life events such as the death of a loved one, financial strain, breakdowns in relationships, and illness.
Mania vs. Hypomania
Mania andhypomaniaare two different types of episodes but with the same signs.Hypomaniais not considered as intense as mania, with mania causing more noticeable problems for personal and social functioning.
With the possibility of mania resulting in psychosis, this can make the effects of this period more long-lasting and may even result in hospitalization.
Signs
When considering the signs of mania, it is important to consider the individual’s usual behavior.
For mania, it is important to look at the considerable changes in behavior from normal. Below are some of the signs that can be associated with mania.
Some of the key signs of a manic episode
Note for Health Care Providers: People with bipolar disorder are more likely to seek help when they are depressed than when they are experiencing mania or hypomania. Taking a careful medical history is essential to ensure that bipolar disorder is not mistaken for major depression.This is especially important when treating an initial episode of depression, as antidepressant medications can trigger a manic episode in people with an increased chance of having bipolar disorder.
Note for Health Care Providers: People with bipolar disorder are more likely to seek help when they are depressed than when they are experiencing mania or hypomania. Taking a careful medical history is essential to ensure that bipolar disorder is not mistaken for major depression.
This is especially important when treating an initial episode of depression, as antidepressant medications can trigger a manic episode in people with an increased chance of having bipolar disorder.
Treatment
Antipsychotics
Some types of antipsychotics are aripiprazole (Abilify), olanzapine (Zyprexa), quetiapine (Seroquel), and risperidone (Risperdal).
Lithium
Glutamate is essential for the normal functioning of the brain. Types of lithium include Cibalith-S, Eskalith, and Lithane.
Valproate
Valproate is a type of anticonvulsant medication usually prescribed for epilepsy but has shown effectiveness in treating some of the signs of mania (being over-excited, overactive, irritable, and distracted).
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapyis also a treatment that can help individuals with mania identify when their moods are changing. With mental health professionals such as a psychotherapist, they can also identify the triggers which may cause a manic episode so that moods can be better managed.
Therapies such ascognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) anddialectical behavioral therapy(DBT) can help individuals to find ways to manage and cope with their mania, understand it better, and work to find methods to help reduce signs when they are noticed.
Other methods that can be used to manage a manic episode when they occur are some lifestyle changes that individuals can do on their own. These can include:
Do you or a loved one need mental health support?USAContact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/1-800-273-8255UKContact the Samaritans for support and assistance from a trained counselor: https://www.samaritans.org/; emailjo@samaritans.org.Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (this number is FREE to call):116-123Rethink Mental Illness: rethink.org0300 5000 927
USA
Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
1-800-273-8255
UK
Contact the Samaritans for support and assistance from a trained counselor: https://www.samaritans.org/; emailjo@samaritans.org.
Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (this number is FREE to call):
116-123
Rethink Mental Illness: rethink.org
0300 5000 927
Further InformationNational Institute of Mental Health. Bipolar disorder. Updated January 2020.Vieta, E., & Sanchez-Moreno, J. (2008). Acute and long-term treatment of mania. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 10(2), 165.
Further Information
National Institute of Mental Health. Bipolar disorder. Updated January 2020.Vieta, E., & Sanchez-Moreno, J. (2008). Acute and long-term treatment of mania. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 10(2), 165.
National Institute of Mental Health. Bipolar disorder. Updated January 2020.
Vieta, E., & Sanchez-Moreno, J. (2008). Acute and long-term treatment of mania. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 10(2), 165.
References
American Psychiatric Association (APA). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Washington, D.C.; 2013.
Carbray JA, Iennaco JD. Recognizing signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 2015;76(11):e1479. doi:10.4088/JCP.14073gc1c
Daly, I. (1997). Mania. The Lancet, 349(9059), 1157-1160.
Gold AK, Sylvia LG. The role of sleep in bipolar disorder. Nat Sci Sleep. 2016;8:207-14. doi:10.2147/NSS.S85754
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2016). DSM-5 Changes: Implications for Child Serious Emotional Disturbance. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519712/table/ch3.t7/
Saul McLeod, PhD
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester
Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.
Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education
Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.
