What is Mania and the Treatment for Mania
Abnormally elevated or irritable mood
Associated with:
- Increased energy & activity
- Increased talkativeness & sociability
- Inflated self-esteem & grandiosity
- Decreased need for sleep
- Poor concentration & distractibility
- Increased libido
- Overspending
- Reckless behaviour
- Racing thoughts
in a syndromal pattern
Can include psychotic symptoms
- Speech can show flight of ideas
- thoughts jumping from topic-to-topic
- Delusions
- usually grandiose e.g. "I am king of Scotland", "I can control the weather"
- Hallucinations
- usually 2nd person auditory
Treatment for Mania
Benzodiazepines/sedation
- calm patient down and re-instate normal sleep pattern
Antipsychotics
- have sedative and mood-stabilizing properties, as well as reducing any psychotic symptoms
Consider stopping any antidepressants
- these can induce or worsen mania
Mood stabilisers
