What Is Unipolar Mania?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsHow to IdentifyCausesTreatmentsWays to Cope

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

How to Identify

Causes

Treatments

Ways to Cope

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Unipolar mania involves having manic episodes and periods of normal mood without the depressive symptoms that typically occur in bipolar disorder.

Maniais defined as periods of elevated mood, excitement, grandiosity, impulsivity, irritability, and exaggerated activity. It is a characteristic symptom ofbipolar disorder, in which people experience mood swings that shift between mania and depression.

Estimates of the prevalence of unipolar mania vary from 1.1% to as much as 65.3% of people with bipolar disorder.

Symptoms of Unipolar Mania

The symptoms of unipolar mania are similar to that of bipolar mania and include:

Some research suggests that the symptoms of unipolar mania are somewhat different than those of bipolar mania. People with unipolar mania may exhibit more grandiosity, psychotic symptoms, and hyperthymic temperament than people with bipolar mania.Hyperthymic temperament refers to increased energy and enthusiasm.

People with unipolar mania also appear to experience less suicidality andrapid cyclingthan those with bipolar mania. They also appear less likely to have comorbid (or co-occuring) anxiety disorders and better functioning in social and professional contexts.

Identifying Unipolar Mania

Unipolar mania is not recognized as a distinct condition in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM-5-TR) or the “International Classification of Diseases” (ICD-11).

The DSM-5-TR suggests that people who experience manic episodes without depression should be diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder.

To be diagnosed withbipolar 1 disorder, a person must have experienced at least one manic episode lasting a minimum of one week and including three more of the following symptoms:

Such episodes must create impairments in a person’s life. Such impairments may be significant enough that they need to be hospitalized for their own safety, such as if they are experiencing hallucinations, delusions, or high-risk behaviors. A healthcare provider must also rule out other mental health conditions such asschizophrenia,schizoaffective disorder, orschizophreniform disorder.

A 2014 review suggested that while unipolar mania may not be recognized as a distinct diagnosis, it would be reasonable for diagnostic classification systems such as the DSM and the ICD to consider it a bipolar disorder specifier. A 2018 review recommended that unipolar mania should be recognized as a condition distinct from the mania that occurs in bipolar disorder.

Unipolar mania is connected to a lower rate of suicidality, less anxiety, and less substance use. Because of these differences, treatments designed for unipolar mania may be more successful than treating it as bipolar 1 disorder.

Causes of Unipolar Mania

The exact causes of unipolar mania are not well understood. Some factors that research has implicated in contributing to unipolar mania include:

Genetics

While genetics have a significant influence, other factors, such as brain structure and function, also impact the condition’s onset.

Seasonality

Nutrition

Researchers also suggest that nutritional habits may impact symptoms in bipolar disorder.Diets high in omega-3s and other nutrients may help prevent some people from experiencing depressive episodes.

Treatment for Unipolar Mania

Bipolar 1 disorder is typically treated with medications and therapy. Psychoeducation and support groups can also be essential components of treatment. Medications often used to treat the condition include mood stabilizers and antipsychotics.

Coping With Unipolar Mania

If you are experiencing unipolar mania, it is important to talk to a healthcare provider about your symptoms. Getting the right diagnosis and working with your provider to find a treatment plan that works for you is essential for managing your condition. Appropriate treatment may help reduce the frequency and severity of manic episodes.

Strategies that can help you cope with unipolar mania include:

Treatment Adherence

Treatment adherencerefers to the extent to which a person follows the medications, therapy, diet, andlifestyle recommendationsto manage their condition. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people with bipolar disorder and other chronic health conditions to have struggles sticking to their treatment plan.

Taking your medication may help you minimize or avoid mood episodes. Look for ways to improve your treatment adherence, including working with a healthcare provider you trust and building a support system of people who can offer encouragement.

Track Your Symptoms

Consider keeping amood journalto monitor how you feel and factors that might precipitate mood changes. For example, you might note how you feel each day and the events that contributed to those feelings. This record can help you start noticing patterns you might not otherwise spot.

Build Health Habits

Factors such asstressand lifestyle can impact symptoms of mania, so it is important to work on establishing healthy habits to help you cope with challenges. In addition to following a healthy diet and regular physical exercise, incorporate some effective stress management techniques into your daily routine.

Watch Your Triggers

If you’ve noticed that specific triggers increase your risk of experiencing a manic episode, take steps to minimize exposure to those things. Triggers that might affect you include consuming alcohol, not getting enough sleep, or interpersonal stress.

If you’ve experienced a manic episode, don’t stop taking your medication. Abruptly stopping your medication might contribute to another manic episode or contribute to worsening symptoms.

Instead, look for ways to get back on track after your mood has returned to a more stable state. Talk to your healthcare provider about steps you might take to minimize the risk of having another episode, whether that means adjusting your medication, eliminating triggers, or making lifestyle changes.

11 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mehta S.Unipolar mania: recent updates and review of the literature.Psychiatry Journal. 2014;2014:1-6. doi:10.1155/2014/261943Culpepper L.The diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder: decision-making in primary care.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.2014;16(3).  doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01609American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Angst J, Rössler W, Ajdacic‐Gross V, et al.Differences between unipolar mania and bipolar‐I disorder: Evidence from nine epidemiological studies.Bipolar Disord. 2019;21(5):437-448. doi:10.1111/bdi.12732Kerner B.Genetics of bipolar disorder.Appl Clin Genet. 2014;7. doi:10.2147/tacg.s39297National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder.Rangappa SB, Munivenkatappa S, Narayanaswamy JC, Jain S, Reddy YC.Predominant mania course in Indian patients with bipolar I disorder.Asian J Psychiatr. 2016;22:22-27. doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2016.04.006Amamou B, Chebbi W, Allegue M, Mhalla A, Zaafrane F, Gaha L.Unipolar mania: A particular aspect of bipolar disorder in Tunisia.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2018;16(2):209-213. doi:10.9758/cpn.2018.16.2.209Avashthi A, Sharma A, Gupta N, Kulhara P, Varma VK.Seasonality and unipolar recurrent mania : preliminary findings from a retrospective study.Indian J Psychiatry. 1996;38(4):236-239.)Mittal P, Mehta S, Solanki R, Swami M, Meena P.A comparative study of seasonality and chronotype in unipolar mania vs. bipolar affective disorder. German Journal of Psychiatry. 2013;16:124-129.Gabriel FC, Oliveira M, Martella BM, et al.Nutrition and bipolar disorder: a systematic review.Nutr Neurosci. 2022;1-15. doi:10.1080/1028415X.2022.2077031

11 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mehta S.Unipolar mania: recent updates and review of the literature.Psychiatry Journal. 2014;2014:1-6. doi:10.1155/2014/261943Culpepper L.The diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder: decision-making in primary care.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.2014;16(3).  doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01609American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Angst J, Rössler W, Ajdacic‐Gross V, et al.Differences between unipolar mania and bipolar‐I disorder: Evidence from nine epidemiological studies.Bipolar Disord. 2019;21(5):437-448. doi:10.1111/bdi.12732Kerner B.Genetics of bipolar disorder.Appl Clin Genet. 2014;7. doi:10.2147/tacg.s39297National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder.Rangappa SB, Munivenkatappa S, Narayanaswamy JC, Jain S, Reddy YC.Predominant mania course in Indian patients with bipolar I disorder.Asian J Psychiatr. 2016;22:22-27. doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2016.04.006Amamou B, Chebbi W, Allegue M, Mhalla A, Zaafrane F, Gaha L.Unipolar mania: A particular aspect of bipolar disorder in Tunisia.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2018;16(2):209-213. doi:10.9758/cpn.2018.16.2.209Avashthi A, Sharma A, Gupta N, Kulhara P, Varma VK.Seasonality and unipolar recurrent mania : preliminary findings from a retrospective study.Indian J Psychiatry. 1996;38(4):236-239.)Mittal P, Mehta S, Solanki R, Swami M, Meena P.A comparative study of seasonality and chronotype in unipolar mania vs. bipolar affective disorder. German Journal of Psychiatry. 2013;16:124-129.Gabriel FC, Oliveira M, Martella BM, et al.Nutrition and bipolar disorder: a systematic review.Nutr Neurosci. 2022;1-15. doi:10.1080/1028415X.2022.2077031

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Mehta S.Unipolar mania: recent updates and review of the literature.Psychiatry Journal. 2014;2014:1-6. doi:10.1155/2014/261943Culpepper L.The diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder: decision-making in primary care.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.2014;16(3).  doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01609American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Angst J, Rössler W, Ajdacic‐Gross V, et al.Differences between unipolar mania and bipolar‐I disorder: Evidence from nine epidemiological studies.Bipolar Disord. 2019;21(5):437-448. doi:10.1111/bdi.12732Kerner B.Genetics of bipolar disorder.Appl Clin Genet. 2014;7. doi:10.2147/tacg.s39297National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder.Rangappa SB, Munivenkatappa S, Narayanaswamy JC, Jain S, Reddy YC.Predominant mania course in Indian patients with bipolar I disorder.Asian J Psychiatr. 2016;22:22-27. doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2016.04.006Amamou B, Chebbi W, Allegue M, Mhalla A, Zaafrane F, Gaha L.Unipolar mania: A particular aspect of bipolar disorder in Tunisia.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2018;16(2):209-213. doi:10.9758/cpn.2018.16.2.209Avashthi A, Sharma A, Gupta N, Kulhara P, Varma VK.Seasonality and unipolar recurrent mania : preliminary findings from a retrospective study.Indian J Psychiatry. 1996;38(4):236-239.)Mittal P, Mehta S, Solanki R, Swami M, Meena P.A comparative study of seasonality and chronotype in unipolar mania vs. bipolar affective disorder. German Journal of Psychiatry. 2013;16:124-129.Gabriel FC, Oliveira M, Martella BM, et al.Nutrition and bipolar disorder: a systematic review.Nutr Neurosci. 2022;1-15. doi:10.1080/1028415X.2022.2077031

Mehta S.Unipolar mania: recent updates and review of the literature.Psychiatry Journal. 2014;2014:1-6. doi:10.1155/2014/261943

Culpepper L.The diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder: decision-making in primary care.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.2014;16(3).  doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01609

American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.

Angst J, Rössler W, Ajdacic‐Gross V, et al.Differences between unipolar mania and bipolar‐I disorder: Evidence from nine epidemiological studies.Bipolar Disord. 2019;21(5):437-448. doi:10.1111/bdi.12732

Kerner B.Genetics of bipolar disorder.Appl Clin Genet. 2014;7. doi:10.2147/tacg.s39297

National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder.

Rangappa SB, Munivenkatappa S, Narayanaswamy JC, Jain S, Reddy YC.Predominant mania course in Indian patients with bipolar I disorder.Asian J Psychiatr. 2016;22:22-27. doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2016.04.006

Amamou B, Chebbi W, Allegue M, Mhalla A, Zaafrane F, Gaha L.Unipolar mania: A particular aspect of bipolar disorder in Tunisia.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2018;16(2):209-213. doi:10.9758/cpn.2018.16.2.209

Avashthi A, Sharma A, Gupta N, Kulhara P, Varma VK.Seasonality and unipolar recurrent mania : preliminary findings from a retrospective study.Indian J Psychiatry. 1996;38(4):236-239.)

Mittal P, Mehta S, Solanki R, Swami M, Meena P.A comparative study of seasonality and chronotype in unipolar mania vs. bipolar affective disorder. German Journal of Psychiatry. 2013;16:124-129.

Gabriel FC, Oliveira M, Martella BM, et al.Nutrition and bipolar disorder: a systematic review.Nutr Neurosci. 2022;1-15. doi:10.1080/1028415X.2022.2077031

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