A 24-year-old individual is brought to a clinic by their family. The family reports that for the past ten days, the individual has been sleeping only two hours a night but has boundless energy, has been speaking in a rapid, pressured manner that is hard to follow, and impulsively purchased a non-refundable, first-class ticket for a trip around the world, despite having significant debt. The individual reports feeling 'invincible' and 'on top of the world.' When asked about their mood history, the individual denies ever having experienced a significant period of depression. Based on this presentation, what is the most likely diagnosis, and what is the single, essential feature described that confirms it?

Clinical Diagnosis Scenario

Also called manic-depressive disorder, the presence of a manic episode is required in the diagnosis of this disorder. Most people with bipolar 1 have episodes of depression or hypo-mania, but only a manic episode presence is required for diagnosis. 

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University of Rochester

A psychological condition that involves intense, long-term mood swings from two different poles: mania and depression. These mood states can last days, weeks, or even months, and are experienced intensely. Average age of onset is 15-25 years old. 

Bipolar Disorder Symptoms (Infographic)

Howland, M. (2021, January). What Is Bipolar Disorder? What Are Bipolar Disorders? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/bipolar-disorders/what-are-bipolar-disorders. 

Psychiatry.org: What is Bipolar Disorder?

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

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