Manic phase: what it is, how it manifests itself and is treated

Bipolar affective disorder (formerly known as manic-depressive psychosis) consists of two opposing phases: manic and depressive. The disease is endogenous or genetically determined. With bipolar disorder, both phases or one may be present. In one patient, either the manic stage (phase), or the depressive stage, or a bizarre mixture of them, predominates. As a rule, all psychotic episodes proceed in the same way as the first; transformation of clinical manifestations rarely occurs.

The duration of each phase can be approximately equal or have a different value. The phases can be clearly defined or mixed with each other. Also, phases can replace one another without a light interval or be separated by intermission or a state of relative calm close to normal.

Symptoms and signs of manic-depressive psychosis

Manic depression manifests itself in the alternation of mania and depression with different, completely opposite signs. A manifestation of a period of mania is:

excessive emotional and physical arousal;
unmotivated activity;
increased energy;
a person is unable to control his actions and actions;
an overly inflated sense of self-worth that has no justification;
a change in behavior that has no explanation;
craving for frequent changes of sexual partners;
constant irritability.

When another phase of the disease sets in (bipolar depression), the following mental disorders appear:

constant sadness;
apathy and complete loss of interest in anything;
decreased self-esteem;
a complete feeling of hopelessness in all aspects of life;
causeless feeling of guilt before others;
sleep disorder: a person cannot sleep for a long time, often wakes up, and feels tired and exhausted in the morning.

Manic-depressive psychosis is characterized by a constant change of these 2 states, due to which the emotional and mental state of a person is greatly shaken, and severe mental disorders occur.

Manic syndrome manifests itself in excessive arousal, both emotional and physical. The patient’s smile never leaves his face, and affective mood disorders appear when the person is in a good mood, even if the life situation does not favor this.

Manic depression manifests itself in accelerated mental activity. A person has a lot of thoughts and ideas in his head, replacing each other faster than he can formulate them.

During the period of depression, such basic signs appear as inhibition in thinking and physical activity, slow speech, bad mood, and a lack of incentive and motivation in life.

Forecast

Depends on the number and severity of the phases experienced. The most favorable course is when the patient has experienced one manic phase and then remains in remission throughout his life. There are few such lucky ones, but they do exist.

Depending on the total number of days of incapacity for work and in the event of loss of profession, a disability group is established, from third to first. During the period of exacerbation, patients are declared insane by the court if they have committed a crime. In remission, the patient is subject to prosecution, but such cases are considered after a forensic examination.

Conscripts who have suffered a manic episode are considered unfit for military service under Art. 15.

Consequences

It all depends on the severity of the disease and the frequency of repetition of the phases. If the second or higher disability group is established, a return to the profession is unlikely. The efforts of doctors in this case are aimed at ensuring that the patient maintains family and social ties.

Patients and their families should understand that it is impossible to completely cure bipolar disorder, but timely seeking medical help shortens the duration of a psychotic episode and prevents the serious consequences of painful behavior, as well as the possibility of committing illegal actions.

Author of the article: Psychiatrist, psychotherapist Larisa Vladimirovna Neboga

Classification of manic-depressive syndrome

The disease is divided into several types depending on which state - depression or mania - predominates:

manic phase;
dominance of depression;
alternation with the same duration of depression and mania;
changes in states occur in a chaotic manner with varying durations;
alternation of states with remission between them;
There are no periods of mental health, mania constantly alternates with depression.

Treatment

It is carried out only by a psychiatrist in a closed hospital.

The following groups of drugs are used:

lithium salts;
anticonvulsants, especially valproate, lamotrigine and carbamazepine;
atypical antipsychotics – Olanzapine, Quetiapine.

Lithium preparations are the main ones in the treatment of the manic phase. The most commonly used is lithium carbonate, a classic mood stabilizer. Lithium ions are natural sodium antagonists. By displacing the latter, lithium reduces the bioelectrical activity of the brain.

Thanks to lithium, the concentration of serotonin in brain structures decreases, and sensitivity to dopamine increases. No other drug is as effective against mania as lithium.

Treatment also includes 24-hour monitoring until remission occurs. The effectiveness of pharmacological treatment decreases with each subsequent painful episode.

Psychotherapy is aimed at mitigating the effects of stress and teaching patients gentle ways to respond to them.

Close relatives should be involved in the treatment of patients. Explanatory work is carried out with them so that at the slightest sign of a change in condition the patient is taken for appropriate treatment. It is explained to them that the condition can change at any moment and they always need to be on guard.

Stages of manic-depressive disorder

Depressive psychosis goes through the following stages:

Common depressive state. The patient experiences apathy, bad mood, loss of appetite, and sleep disturbances. There are no other abnormalities in the condition.
Depression with delirium. A person has an obsession, for example, he is afraid that he will become terminally ill.
Delusions of the megalomaniac type, in which the patient imagines himself as the hero of a film or thinks that he is a participant in a crime.
Anxiety. Anxious depression - anxiety can be caused by imaginary fear for one of your loved ones, for yourself, for the world.
Apathy. Apathetic state - a person completely loses interest in work, hobbies, himself, life.
"Smile" depression. A smiling state is the most dangerous. When a person is calm and constantly smiling, the people around him have no idea what is happening to him. With this type of depression, the likelihood of suicide is highest.
Somatized depression. It causes autonomic disorders: tachycardia, chest pain, pressure surges.

Any type of depression and mania has 4 stages:

light;
growing period;
peak;
fading.

At each stage there is an increase in the intensity of the signs of the disease. After the extinction stage, a manic stage of psychosis may occur, or intermission may occur. Intermission is characterized by the absence of any pathological signs, or they are mild. The duration of intermission can be from 3 to 7 months.

Types of manic states

There are several classifications based on the manifestations of mania and their content.

Based on content, the following types are distinguished:

Persecution mania is accompanied by paranoia. The patient is convinced that he is being persecuted; anyone can act as a persecutor - from relatives and friends to the intelligence services.
Mania for a special purpose - the patient is sure that he needs to create a new religion, make a scientific discovery, save humanity.
Delusions of grandeur are similar to the previous one. The main difference is that the patient does not have a goal, he simply considers himself the chosen one - the smartest, the most beautiful, the richest.
Mania of guilt, politeness, self-destruction, nihilistic - rarer situations. Patients prone to alcohol abuse often experience mania of jealousy.

According to the emotional state, manic syndrome can be:

Joyful mania is excitement, an unreasonably elevated mood.
Angry – hot temper, tendency to create conflict situations.
Paranoid – manifested by paranoia of persecution, paranoia of relationships.
Oneiric – accompanied by hallucinations.
Manic-depressive syndrome is characterized by alternating mania and depression.

With manic-depressive syndrome, intervals may alternate after an equal amount of time, or one type of behavior predominates. Sometimes the next phase may not occur for years.

Causes of development and prevalence of TIR

Why bipolar depression occurs is unknown. But psychiatry indicates the excessive predominance of one character trait in a person, for example, aggressiveness or a tendency to constant worries, as the main cause of the development of the disease.

Depressive psychosis is associated with dysfunction of those brain centers that are responsible for a person’s emotional state. These centers are located in the cerebral subcortex. Their work can be affected by congenital pathologies associated with disorders of intrauterine development of the fetus. Genetic factors alone are not enough for TIR to begin to develop.

Provoking factors

The main role in the development of MDP is played by provoking factors, the presence of which increases the likelihood of developing pathology. External factors do not influence the development of this type of psychosis, but can affect the rate of development of the disease and lead to its aggravation if a person is nervous or worried a lot due to certain life circumstances.

Factors that increase the likelihood of developing the disease include:

Genetic predisposition - pathology is inherited. If a close blood relative has had depression, mania, or a personality disorder, the likelihood of developing the disease increases.
Psychogenic factors - severe stress, emotional trauma, prolonged experiences due to some life situation.
Excessive emotionality refers to the specific character of a person.
Congenital brain diseases.

If there is a genetic predisposition, MDP can occur as a result of a change in life circumstances for which a person was not prepared, or if the reality that happened did not live up to expectations. For example, in women, the disease can occur after childbirth due to worsening postpartum depression, which was not promptly diagnosed and treated.

For what reasons does it develop?

Brain injury can lead to the development of this condition.
This condition can develop in the presence of one of two main factors:

genetic predisposition;
abnormalities in the functioning of the brain.

The risk zone is individuals who have relatives with mental disorders.

The following reasons contributing to the development of this type of depression are considered:

psychological trauma;
somatic disorders;
hormone imbalance;
the result of prolonged stress;
seasonal vitamin deficiency;
infectious pathologies of the brain;
uncontrolled use of medications;
brain injury.

Diagnostics

Circular psychosis is quite difficult to diagnose; a comprehensive examination is required. It is especially difficult to diagnose in children and adolescents. In children, determining MDP is difficult due to the fact that the personality type has not yet been fully formed. In adolescents during puberty, attacks of emotional outbursts and excessive depression can be caused by hormonal changes. Therefore, it is difficult to determine what triggered frequent mood changes.

Complex diagnostics; An important role in determining the disease is played by compiling a thorough medical history, so that the doctor can analyze behavioral traits and characteristics, and the presence of provoking factors in a person’s life.

Differential diagnosis is required to distinguish MDP from other physical diseases. Laboratory tests are prescribed: urine and blood, and instrumental diagnostic methods are performed (ultrasound, MRI, CT).

When making a diagnosis, the thyroid gland is examined to determine the level of its main hormones. Often, malfunctions of the thyroid gland can provoke the development of symptoms characteristic of MDP.

The diagnosis is made by a psychotherapist based on an analysis of the patient’s main complaints and characteristics of his behavior, and the absence of other diseases that may manifest a similar clinical picture.

Manic disorder (mania) - symptoms and treatment

As stated earlier, the risk of manic disorder is genetically mediated and can often be observed as subsyndromal features of the disease. In addition, interpersonal and family stress associated with the development of symptoms (both stress caused by symptoms and uncontrollable stressors or adversities that interfere with the child's successful developmental adjustment) may interfere with prefrontally mediated mood regulation. In turn, poor emotional self-regulation may be associated with increased cycling and resistance to pharmacological interventions. Thus, preventative interventions (i.e., those administered before the first fully syndromic manic episode) that alleviate early symptoms, increase the ability to cope with dependent and independent stressors, and restore healthy prefrontal circuitry should reduce the likelihood of adverse disorder outcomes (Chang et al. 2006,). With these assumptions, the intervention planning researcher or clinician can intervene at the level of biological markers (eg, brain-derived growth factor), environmental stressors (eg, aversive family interactions), subsyndromal mood, or ADHD symptoms.

It can be argued that treatment of a child at risk should begin with psychotherapy and progress to pharmacotherapy only if the child continues to be unstable or worsens. Although psychotherapy requires more time and effort than psychopharmacology, it can be a precise, targeted intervention with lasting effects even after its completion (Vittengl, Clark, Dunn, & Jarrett, 2007).

Psychotherapy does not usually cause potentially harmful side effects. In contrast, medications such as the atypical antipsychotic olanzapine (which is often used as a mood stabilizer), while reducing conversion to psychosis among at-risk adolescents, may be associated with significant weight gain and “metabolic syndrome” (McGlashan et al. 2006 ).

The medications will likely have little effect on the intensity of environmental stressors and will not buffer the at-risk individual from stress once they stop taking them. In contrast, psychosocial interventions can reduce psychosocial vulnerabilities and improve the resilience and coping of those at risk. Involving the family in treatment can also help the caregiver recognize how his or her own vulnerabilities, such as an individual history of mood disorder, translate into hostile parent/offspring interactions that may contribute to offspring responsibility.

Despite important advances, relatively little is known about the actual constellation of risk and protective factors that most accurately predict the onset of manic disorder or weighing genetic, neurobiological, social, familial, or cultural factors at different stages of development. It can be argued that elucidating these developmental trajectories is a necessary precondition for fully effective preventive interventions, especially if therapeutic targets can be identified at different developmental stages. Studies examining the interactions of genetic, neurobiological, and environmental factors should be helpful in identifying these intervention targets.

We have long known that differences in social environments can lead to differences in gene expression and variations in brain structure or function, and, recursively, variations in genetic vulnerability or brain function can lead to differential environmental selection. The puzzle is how best to examine the role of environmental variables while controlling for the role of genetic factors, and vice versa. Examining the role of the environment in married couples or identical twins may help control for the role of shared environmental factors and will allow examination of the role of nonshared familial or other environmental factors. For an example of antisocial behavior, Caspi et al. (2004) showed that among identical twin pairs, the twin to whom the mother expressed more emotional negativity and less warmth was at greater risk of developing antisocial behavior than the twin to whom the mother expressed less negativity and more warmth. Experimental designs such as these could usefully be applied to siblings or twin pairs of manic disorder to clarify how different stressors lead to differences in gene expression and likelihood of developing mood episodes.

Understanding these diverse developmental pathways will help us tailor our early intervention and prevention efforts, which may mean designing interventions differently for children with different prodromal presentations. For prodromal children with the highest genetic loads for mood disorders, early intervention with medications can have a profound impact on later outcomes. In contrast, youth for whom environmental contextual factors play a central role in the occurrence of episodes (for example, adolescent girls with a history of sexual abuse and ongoing marital conflict) may benefit most from interventions that focus on enhancing the protective effects of immediate social environment, with pharmacotherapy introduced only as a rescue strategy.

Finally, the results of research and preventive measures can shed light on the nature of genetic, biological, social and cultural mechanisms. Indeed, if early intervention trials show that changing family interactions reduces the risk of early-onset bipolar disorder, we will have evidence that family processes play a causal rather than a reactive role in some trajectories of manic disorder. In parallel, if treatment-related changes in neurobiological risk markers (such as amygdaloid volume) improve the trajectory of early mood symptoms or comorbidities, we can develop hypotheses for these biological risk markers. The next generation of research into the development of manic disorder must address these questions.

Treatment of manic-depressive psychosis

Doctors select therapy depending on factors such as the patient’s age, the nature of the provoking factors, as well as the stage at which circular psychosis occurs. MDP can only be treated with an integrated approach: personality adjustment by a psychotherapist and medication.

Therapy in most cases is carried out at home, where the patient takes prescribed medications and regularly visits a psychotherapist. Hospitalization in a hospital setting is needed when a person’s actions pose a threat to himself and those around him. This applies to situations where there is a high risk of suicide or increased aggression. If you consult a doctor in a timely manner, the likelihood that you will have to resort to hospitalization is minimal.

Drug treatment

Medication intake is selected depending on which stage of the disease predominates. It is important to observe the regularity of taking medications and their course in order to achieve a positive result. The combination of drugs, their type and dosage must be adjusted as the intensity of the signs of MDP decreases.

If mania predominates, drugs from the antipsychotic group are prescribed:

Tizercin;
Aminazine;
Haloperidol.

Less often (if the clinical picture of mania is severe), lithium salt and carbamazepine are required.

If a depressive phase begins during psychosis, medications such as Amitriptyline, Melipramine and Tizercin are required. These antidepressants are potent, so they can only be taken under the supervision of a doctor and strictly adhere to the dosage. It is strictly forbidden to mix them with tricyclic antidepressants.

Along with taking medications, it is necessary to change the diet, excluding cheese, chocolate and confectionery, coffee, and alcoholic beverages.

Psychotherapeutic treatments

People diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder (BD) should undergo psychotherapy. This is the most important stage of treatment. In the early stages of the disease, psychotherapy prevents further development of the disease. Its regular implementation reduces the risk of relapse and prolongs the remission stage for a long time. The greatest positive results come from sessions with a psychotherapist during the depressive phase.

The most common method of such treatment is active psychotherapy, when the patient is asked to find any activity that might interest him. Having a hobby helps take your mind off negative thoughts and crazy ideas.

Sessions with a psychotherapist can be individual or group. In the treatment of patients with MDP, it is customary to first conduct a course of individual sessions. Only after the person’s condition has been stabilized can group classes begin. Often such sessions can alternate. A particular difficulty in conducting psychotherapy is the treatment of children and adolescents whose bipolar disorder syndrome is complicated by the characteristics of the puberty period or by an unformed personality and behavioral model.

Manifestations of the disease.

Bipolar psychosis can manifest itself in different types of episodes (manic, depressive and mixed) with varying degrees of severity. During severe episodes, psychotic disturbances (delusions and hallucinations) may occur. The presence of an episode of elevated mood (mania) of any severity indicates that this affective disorder belongs to the bipolar spectrum.

Characteristics of the manic phase. Classic manifestations include a triad of symptoms - elevated mood, accelerated thinking, increased physical activity. This patient is characterized by:

Unsupported optimism, increased cheerfulness, incorrect assessment of the chances of success - investing money in dubious enterprises, participating in the lottery with confidence in a big win, etc.
The thinking of such patients is accelerated, their speech is often confused (“jumping thoughts”), has the character of a monologue, reaching a degree of incoherence. Active gesticulation, hasty speech with “swallowed” words. With strong passion and the inability to express emotions in words, simply waving your arms occurs.
Increased distractibility and superficiality of judgment.
Desire to take risks - commit a robbery or a dangerous stunt for fun, participate in gambling, etc.
Overconfidence, ignoring advice and criticism. Disagreement with a certain opinion can cause aggression.
Excessive arousal, energy, feeling of “superhealth”, decreased need for sleep.
Severe irritability.

There are three degrees of severity of mania: mild - hypomania; moderate severity - mania without psychotic symptoms; and severe - mania with psychotic symptoms. In mild cases (hypomania), there is mild mood elevation and/or irritability for at least a few days, increased motor activity and energy, a sense of well-being and physical and mental productivity, decreased need and shorter sleep duration. With hypomania, social maladjustment does not occur.

Delusional states are characterized by delusions of grandeur, special origin, persecution, meaning, etc.

Depressive symptoms are diametrically opposed. Decreased mood, slowed thinking and speech, motor retardation are signs of the “classic triad” of depression. Patients may experience:

Malaise in the physical sense.
Complete apathy, sadness, loss of interest in life, loss of pleasure.
Distrust, self-isolation.
Sleep disturbances.
Slow speech, silence.
Impaired concentration.
Loss of appetite or, conversely, gluttony (rare).
Decreased self-esteem.
Ideas of guilt.
A gloomy pessimistic vision of the future.
The desire to leave life.
Decreased motor activity, even to the point of stupor.

Depressed mood can manifest itself persistently throughout the day, or it can have daily dynamics with worsening symptoms in the morning.

For depressive episodes, the duration must be at least 2 weeks, but the diagnosis may be made for shorter periods if the symptoms are unusually severe and occur quickly.

Somatic symptoms during the depressive phase are considered to be a loss of interest and pleasure in activities that are normally enjoyable; loss of emotional reactivity to the environment and events that are normally pleasant; waking up in the morning 2 or more hours earlier than usual; depression is worse in the morning; objective evidence of clear psychomotor retardation or agitation (noted by a stranger); a clear decrease in appetite; weight loss (considered to be indicated by a 5% weight loss in the last month); marked decrease in libido. This somatic syndrome is usually considered present if at least 4 of the symptoms mentioned above are present or if only 2 or 3 are present, but are quite severe. If, with mild depression, the patient’s well-being and activity changes, but maladjustment does not occur, then as the symptoms become more severe with the increasing severity of the mood disorder and the appearance of psychotic symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, stupor), the patient may need hospitalization. In delusional experiences, plots of sinfulness, threatening misfortune, impoverishment, guilt, the patient’s responsibility for what is happening, auditory hallucinations - in the form of accusing or insulting voices - are more common; olfactory hallucinations in the form of the smell of rotting flesh and dirt.

Mixed episodes are characterized by the simultaneous existence of hypomanic, manic or depressive symptoms lasting at least 2 weeks, or their rapid alternation over several hours, which often leads to significant social maladjustment and hospitalization. These conditions are usually accompanied by general emotional instability, with them the appearance of psychotic symptoms is often observed; symptoms include hyperactivity, insomnia, suicidal thoughts, and loss of appetite. The patient may experience a cheerful mood during deep stupor, a sudden manifestation of joy against the background of a melancholic state, or suppressed melancholic thoughts during excitement.

Consequences and complications

TIR never passes without a trace. If the disease is not diagnosed and treated in time, it will only get worse with age. In old age, it will be almost impossible to cure a person with medications and sessions with a psychotherapist. Dementia and complete insanity await such people.

Lack of treatment will lead to the fact that each time the period of mania or depression will only increase, the remission will gradually become shorter and eventually disappear completely. The symptomatic picture of the disease will begin to worsen. If at first a person during a period of depression is simply sad and apathetic, later he may begin to take alcoholic beverages or drugs, seeing them as a way to get away from himself and the prevailing realities of life.

As the condition worsens, thoughts about suicide will begin to arise more and more often, as the only possible way out of the situation.

Mania is fraught with the fact that a person, being in his own world during this period, can cause physical harm to himself or others. With a complicated course of TIR, the likelihood that hospitalization will be required is high.

The methods of treatment used in psychiatric clinics do not always leave their mark on the human psyche. There is a possibility that the disease cannot be cured, and a patient with a similar disorder will become a regular client of a psychiatric institution.

Risk factors

They are studied, and new ones are discovered every year. This is what we know today:

Psychosis, in which both phases are present, most often affects men. The unipolar course of the disorder is three times more common in women.
Women get sick mainly during the period of hormonal changes - during pregnancy, lactation, menopause. Women who have experienced postpartum depression are most at risk.
The first 2 weeks after birth are the most dangerous. If during this period a woman suffers any psychiatric disorder, then the risk of developing bipolar disorder increases 4 times.
The depressive phase can be triggered by external harm - stress, divorce, death of loved ones. The manic phase is completely divorced from real events.
Pre-morbid (premorbid) personality traits are important. At risk are people who are overly conscientious, reserved, and overly responsible. Those whose emotions were initially characterized by poverty and monotony, who “did not allow themselves” to go even a little beyond conventions and social approval are also at risk. From a philosophical point of view, illness, as it were, compensates for what a person consciously refuses in everyday life.

How does bipolar disorder manifest in children?

Bipolar disorder in children is different in that the phases replace each other very quickly, sometimes several times during the day. Young children look stupid or overly happy, and their bright happiness is replaced by attacks of anger and malice. It is difficult to find logic in mood changes. However, young children do not have time to harm themselves or others, since they are under 24-hour adult supervision.

School-age children are most often diagnosed with hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder. The diagnosis of this syndrome is usually overestimated; it includes conditions of a variety of etiologies. Such children typically complain of headaches, muscle pain, fatigue, and abdominal discomfort.

Schoolchildren with affective disorders exhibit rebellious behavior, tend to run away from home, and are extremely irresponsible. Absenteeism often occurs at school, and such a child reacts to comments with painful hysterics.

The situation is worse with teenagers. Their physical development and relative freedom from adult control gives them the opportunity to engage in promiscuity and risk their lives by climbing tall buildings or riding on the roofs of trains. During mania, a teenager “realizes” that he has much more opportunities than others. Delusional ideas of greatness dictate his absurd and dangerous actions, which can inadvertently lead to suicide.

Prevention

In order not to face such a serious and sometimes incurable disease, it is important to always maintain peace of mind in all situations. If you have a genetic predisposition to bipolar disorder, it is strictly forbidden to abuse alcohol-containing drinks, which often cause the development of this condition. It is prohibited to take psychotropic substances and drugs.

Prevention also concerns protecting oneself from stressful situations, states of shock, emotional and mental turmoil. If a person knows that he is quite emotional and takes the slightest troubles in life too closely, it is necessary to consult a doctor so that he can prescribe safe but effective sedatives that are not addictive.

If you discover the first signs of a pathological deviation, you must immediately contact a psychotherapist. With timely medical care, the disease can be stopped in the early stages of development.

Types of mania

Mood disorders have been studied since the 5th century BC. Hippocrates identified borderline states - mania and melancholy. At the end of the 19th century, E. Kraepelin put forward the concept according to which all behavioral disorders were classified as manic-depressive psychosis (MDP).

Throughout the twentieth century, this concept was considered basic, and only recently have behavioral disorders received a more detailed classification. First of all, it was pointed out that there are two main types of TIR:

Episodes of depression are replaced by mania and inappropriately elevated mood, which entails mental disorders.
Depression can alternate with hypomania, in which mood elevations are not associated with serious mental disorders.

The modern classification of diseases ICD-10 distinguishes three degrees of mania, the mildest of which is hypomania. It is followed by mania without psychotic symptoms and mania that is manifested by psychotic symptoms.

Hypomania, in turn, is also classified according to several criteria:

Based on the degree of predominance of some symptoms of the disorder, hypomania can be simple, it is also called cheerful, irritable or angry, as well as expansive;
division into types can be carried out based on the type of disorders accompanying an episode of mild mania. When there is a tendency to litigiousness, hypomania is called querulant; there is also an opportunistic and dysphoric form of pathology;
Based on their severity of symptoms, hypomania is divided into obvious or pure, as well as hidden, when the symptoms are less pronounced.

Hypomania can affect the psychosomatic sphere, in which case euphoric hypochondria develops. A person in such a state directs all his energy to actively fight an imaginary illness.

What is pedantry?

The definition of a concept demonstrates its essence. A pedant is understood as an overly meticulous person, inclined to impose his will on other people. Most people perceive the meaning of the word pedantry in this way. And such a person is often prone to deep reflection and soul-searching. In her thoughts, she can reach the point where she begins to blame herself for past actions. Pedants are often very demanding of themselves and those around them, trying to explain all the significant phenomena of life, to fit everything into a certain scheme.

For example, if you ask them to buy healthy products, the pedant will do everything carefully. First he will analyze this issue, weigh the pros and cons, and only after that he will go to the store. The pedant wants to check everything on his own experience. He is a researcher, but not a creator.

Causes of hypomanic psychosis

A healthy person with behavior similar to hypomaniacs is radically different from them in their internal mental state. He is cheerful and energetic because he is healthy mentally and physically, he adequately assesses himself, his abilities and skills, his place in the world. All this helps him not to dwell on negative experiences, but to build up his support in life and stress resistance. Such people are also not afraid of change, they are ready to try new activities without fear, but they behave adequately, acting step by step. They sensibly assess the obstacles to achieving their goals and know how to calculate their strength.

Hypomanic psychosis, on the contrary, makes the patient more and more unbalanced. His mental reactions are uneven. The deep internal reasons here lie in a person’s internal complexes, which lead to the development of excessive ambitions. Universal human desires to become successful professionally and financially, to take place in society, in a patient with hypomanic psychosis they reach enormous proportions. Without their satisfaction, he sees no meaning in life.

Often a person begins to nurture such ideas in childhood. This is especially facilitated by psycho-emotional trauma associated with the fact that in the early period of life a person felt unappreciated, humiliated, and lacked love and recognition. With age, the idea of “proving to everyone what I am worth, what I am capable of” can grow to manic proportions.

Becoming an avid workaholic, living in a constant mode of extreme effort, a person does not notice constant fatigue and pathological changes occurring in the psyche. He is ready to do anything to achieve his ultimate goal.

Additional risk factors for the development of hypomanic psychosis are previous traumatic brain and birth injuries, as well as neuroinfections.

Hypomania: what is it?

Hypomania is a state more like mania, but mild and without psychotic features such as delusions or hallucinations. This disease is characterized by a change in mood from sublime bliss to a depressed state and depression. The emotions of people with hypomania are manifested in increased excitability, a tendency to engage in communication and have long conversations, in a joyful mood, as well as irritability. Increased cravings for food and sex are recorded in behavior, efficiency and productivity increase, and sleep disturbances occur. Such a person is capable of committing actions that do not correspond to moral standards.

Hypomania is a deviation in human behavior, expressed in prolonged hyperactivity.

Let's look at what the symptoms and signs of hypomania are. The symptoms of this disorder are such that it seems that we are talking about a healthy person. But this is far from true. Of course, it’s good when a person is in a good mood and has positive emotions, but they don’t always come in the right place.

And this state of affairs should already cause alarm. It is worth thinking about his mental health and normal perception of the world around him.

The following symptoms of hypomanic psychosis can be distinguished:

a mood of bliss or irritability, which is not usual for a given individual and which has been observed for a long period;
increased talkativeness, extremely hasty speech;
inability to concentrate;
increased physical activity;
reducing time for rest;
reduction of night sleep;
manifestations of unceremoniousness;
Occasional behavior that is characterized by recklessness or contradiction;
increased sexual desire;
abnormal desire to communicate;
uncontrolled eating, leading to overeating.

Hypomania can also have causes in hormonal disorders