What is a mixed episode?

Mixed episode is a psychiatric condition where someone experiences symptoms of mania and depression at the same time. Diagnostic handbooks used to define diagnoses for psychiatric purposes, such as diagnostic and statistical manual mental disorders, published by American Psychiatric Association, have a very strict definition for mixed episodes. Many people who are experiencing states that are clearly mixed in nature are not diagnosed with mixed episodes because they are not suitable for narrow diagnostic criteria, and it can be very demanding. This condition is most commonly observed in people with bipolar I, a psychiatric disorder characterized by periodic episodes of mania or depression. The mixed state can manifest itself in many different ways. People may have upset depression or dysforical mania, with racing thoughts, agitation, and extreme depression, including suicidal thoughts and flat influence.

This combination of manic and depressive symptoms can be very dangerous. Patients who experience mixedEpisodes are exposed to an increased risk of suicide, self -harm and other psychiatric complications. It is not uncommon for patients to hospitalize for treatment. Taking care of yourself and completing daily tasks can become demanding and sometimes impossible. Patients may forget to eat and practice basic hygiene and can become antisocial when they fight the contradictory thoughts they experience.

Mood stabilization can be used in the treatment of mixed episodes. These drugs must be prescribed carefully, as some patients may respond badly to certain drugs and experience more serious symptoms than alleviation. Psychotherapy is beneficial to some patients once Thej is stabilized to medicines and further treatment can also be explored, depending on the specifics of a particular case.

patients with a history of mental diseases may be aware of the warning signals of mixed episodesY and can take steps to treat before the symptoms become serious. In other cases, patients may not recognize the onset, or maybe they have not experienced such episodes before, and are therefore not repaired. It is very important that patients receive treatment while they have mixed episodes, as this condition can be extremely dangerous. Although the patient does not meet diagnostic criteria because the condition is too short or the hypomania instead of mania is experienced, there are serious risks associated with the current experience of mania and depression in a mixed episode.