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Article: Mixed episode
- Article from:
- Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Mixed episode
Definition
A mixed episode is a discrete period during which a person experiences nearly daily fluctuations in mood that qualify for diagnoses of
manic episode
and major depressive episode. Over the course of at least one week, the mood of a person experiencing a mixed episode will rapidly change between abnormal happiness or euphoria and sadness or irritability.
Description
To qualify for a
diagnosis
of mixed episode, symptoms must be severe enough to interfere with an individual's ability to carry out daily routines at work or home, or to require
hospitalization
. Males may be more susceptible to this ...