You see a woman who tells you she just went on a shopping spree. She is dressed nicely, wearing a lot of make-up, talking excitedly, and making many plans for the future. You suspect:
Schizophrenia
Brief psychotic disorder
Hypomania
Folie a deux
Is it possible that this woman is experiencing hypomania?
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The correct answer is Hypomania.
Hypomania is characterized by a persistently elevated or irritable mood, increased energy, and often includes behaviors such as excessive spending, talking a lot, and making grand plans, all of which align with the woman’s actions in your scenario. In contrast, schizophrenia and brief psychotic disorder involve more severe symptoms such as delusions or hallucinations, while folie à deux refers to a shared delusional belief between two people.