Bipolar ?

Daytonite, thanks for the web sites. I did look at them as well as the NAMI site and my psych books. I am leaning towards hypomania or mania but the headache and indigestion are throwing me. :imbar The patient has already been discharged, I am merely asking for my own curiosity. And of course the s/sx seem to run into each other. Patient only presented with those symptoms and did not seem to be depressed or manic.

Daytonite, !

I was so focused on it had to be a result of the disorder itself and could not see past that. Thank you so much. I had been thinking about it all day yesterday and this afternoon.

i did a bit of looking too. i suspect the headache and indigestion are side effects of her medication. the agitation is without a doubt due to being manic. hypomania is kind of rare and borders on depression. that's not agitation.

i have to disagree. agitation is a classic symptom of hypomania, especially if the wisdom of a patient's good spirits and brilliance are challenged. agitation can be a sign of depression as well, especially in children or elderly patients (or it could be another med side effect, for that matter).

as for hypomania "bordering on depression"?

mania and hypomania differ chiefly in cognition and the intensity of behavioral changes. the hypomanic person usually feels energetic, self-confident, and has a sense of well-being, but his or her irritability, impaired judgment, and indiscretions can be quite disruptive. an enhanced ability to think and concentrate may improve productivity, promoting an accompanying sense of accomplishment. hypomania is not associated with psychotic symptoms, nor does it require hospitalization. sometimes hypomania escalates to acute mania.

i don't think hypomania is very rare, either. certainly under-reported, but statistics i found (in the article above) said about 2.0% of the population.

~mel'

Like you said, indigestion and HA could be her meds. I have no idea what she was taking. She could also have a cardiac issue for all I know, and the s/s were heart and not GI. I was just pointing out that agitation is common in depression as well as hypomania, and that hypomania doesn't really border on depression.

~Mel'

Edit: I wouldn't even have said anything in the first place, but I know people take what you say here seriously.