what is mania disorder

Mania disorder, also known as manic syndrome, is a mental and behavioral disorder characterized by a state of abnormally elevated arousal, affect, and energy level. It is a condition in which a person has a period of abnormally elevated, extreme changes in mood or emotions, energy level, or activity level. Mania is a syndrome with multiple causes, and although the vast majority of cases occur in the context of bipolar disorder, it is a key component of other psychiatric disorders such as schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, and may also occur secondary to various general medical conditions. Some of the defining characteristics of mania include increased talkativeness, rapid speech, a decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts, distractibility, increase in goal-directed activity, and psychomotor agitation. Mania can also be accompanied by an elevated or expansive mood, mood lability, impulsivity, irritability, and grandiosity. Although "severely elevated mood" sounds somewhat desirable and enjoyable, the experience of mania is ultimately often quite unpleasant and sometimes disturbing, if not frightening, for the person involved and for those close to them, and it may lead to impulsive behavior that may later be regretted. Mania can also be caused by physical trauma or illness, and when the causes are physical, it is called secondary mania. Mania has a significant impact on a persons ability to do their usual day-to-day activities, and severe mania is very serious, often requiring treatment in the hospital.