What is the minimum duration of symptoms required for a full manic episode in DSM-5 Bipolar I Disorder?
- A 2 consecutive days
- B 4 consecutive days
- C 7 consecutive days, or any duration if hospitalisation is necessary ✓
- D 14 consecutive days
Correct answer: C. 7 consecutive days, or any duration if hospitalisation is necessary
Explanation
A manic episode requires elevated, expansive, or irritable mood with increased energy for at least 7 consecutive days, or any duration if symptoms are severe enough to require hospitalisation. Four consecutive days is the minimum for a hypomanic episode, and a 2-day period does not meet either threshold. This duration distinction is the backbone of differentiating hypomania from mania alongside the presence of marked impairment or psychosis, which occur only in mania.
Reference: DSM-5: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed.
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