A psychopathological state and abnormality of mood falling somewhere between normal positive mood and mania. It is characterized by unrealistic optimism, pressure of speech and activity, and a decreased need for sleep. Some people show increased creativity during hypomanic states, whereas others show poor judgment, irritability, and irascibility.
A mild form of manic excitement manifested in manic-depressive reactions.
A state of mild mania or overexcitement, especially when part of a manic-depressive cycle.
An abnormally expansive, elevated, highly energized, or irritable mood that comes on quickly, lasts for at least 4 days, and represents a distinct change from the person’s normal, day-to-day mood. The change in mood is accompanied by inflated self-esteem or grandiosity, a decreased need for sleep, rapid and loud speech, far-fetched ideas, distractibility, increased involvement in goal-directed activities such as business or artistic ventures, and excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that can have painful consequences, such as sexual affairs, buying sprees, or reckless driving. Hypomania is usually not severe enough to cause difficulty in work, social, or school settings, and it does not cause hallucinations (such as hearing the voices of the dead) or delusions, such as believing that one is someone else. Hypomanic episodes can last for several weeks or months and are often preceded or followed by a period of depression. In some cases, hypomania progresses to the more extreme mood change known as mania and may have a role in the development of bipolar disorder.
A mild degree of mania. Elated mood leads to faulty judgment; behavior lacks the usual social restraints and the sexual drive is increased; speech is rapid and animated; the individual is energetic but not persistent and tends to be irritable. The abnormality is not so great as in mania and the patient may appear normal and a bit of a character* to those who do not know him. Treatment follows the same principles as for mania, and it may be difficult to prevent an individual from damaging his own interests with extravagant behavior.
A modest degree of mania. The individual is elated to an extent that he or she may make unwise decisions, and social behaviour may become animated and uninhibited. To the casual observer individuals may, however, seem normal. Treatment is advisable to prevent them from harming their own or their family’s interests. Treatment is as for mania.
Mild mania and excitement, with a moderate change in behavior.
A milder manifestation of an escalated mood condition that commonly accompanies bipolar type II disorder.