Table 1. DSM-IV Criteria for a Hypomanic Episode.

Table adapted from [6], Pg 485.

DSM-IV: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition, Revised

The following is the DSM-IV criteria required for the diagnosis of hypomania:

1) A unique period of persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting throughout a minimum of four days, which is identifiably different from the usual non-depressed mood state

2) During the episode of mood disturbance, three or more of the following symptoms (four, if the mood is only irritable) have persisted and significantly present:

- Inflated self-esteem/grandiosity

- Decreased need for sleep

- More talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking

- Flight of Ideas or subjective experience that thoughts are racing

- Distractability

- Increase in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation

- Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences

3) The hypomanic episode is associated with a significant change in functioning that is uncharacteristic of the person when not symptomatic

4) The disturbance in mood and the change in functioning are observable by others

5) The hypomanic episode is not severe enough to cause marked impairment in social or occupational functioning or to necessitate hospitalization, and there are no psychotic features

6) The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication, or other treatment) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism)