What is Hypomania

Under the mild hypomania is understood mania, in which changes in mood and behavior and long lasting expression are not accompanied by delusions and hallucinations. Elevated mood manifests itself in emotions like happy cloudless, irritability, in the field of speech as excessive talkativeness with lightweight and superficial judgments, increased rapport. In the field of behavior is marked increase in appetite, sexuality, distractibility, decreased need for sleep, individual actions transgressors, framework of morality. Subjectively is perceived ease of association, increase efficiency and creative productivity. Objectively is increasing number of social contacts and success.

Symptoms of hypomania

Partial symptoms of mania may be monosimptomy of the the following type: disinhibition in childhood and adolescence, reduced need for sleep, episodes of increasing creative productivity with feelings of inspiration, bulimia, increased libido (satiriasis and nymphomania).

Clinical Example: Patient O., 32 years old. By nature is gregarious and active in the specialty – an employee of a small firm. The last week had less sleep due to the fact that there was new project at work. He believed at home everyone bothered him so they had to work at night. He was detained by police during the night due to the fact that at high speed went roller-skating through the main streets, singing loudly. A few days later came into conflict with the staff restaurant, as he thinks, it was brought to him the wrong dish cooked. He was arguing with everyone at work, since he thought that “his ideas were the most advanced.”

Diagnosis of hypomania

Diagnosis

•   The main criteria are:

1. Elevated or irritable mood that is abnormal for the individual and retained for at least 4 days.
2. Must be submitted at least 3 of the following symptoms:

- Increased activity or physical restlessness;
– Increased talkativeness;
– Difficulty in focusing, or distraction;
– Decreased need for sleep;
– Increased sexual energy;
– Episodes of reckless or irresponsible behavior;
– Increased sociability or familiarity.

Differential diagnosis

Hypomaniac episodes are possible in hyperthyroidism, in which case they are combined with autonomic reactions, fever, noticeable symptom Graefe, exophthalmos, tremor. Patients reported “internal tremors.” Hypomania may also be at the stage of alimentary excitation with anorexia or starvation in the application of the treatment. In true hypomanic appetite is increased. Hypomania is characterized also by some toxic substances, such as amphetamines, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, but in this case there are other signs of intoxication: changes in pupil size, tremors, autonomic reaction.

Treatment of hypomania

In the therapy are used small and medium doses of lithium carbonate or other drugs (litosan, litobid), small doses of carbamazepine.