When a patient arrives in the emergency room,he is restless and irritable with unlimited energy and a rapid rate of speech.The attending psychiatrist believes the patient has taken cocaine or amphetamines and admits him for observation.The next day the symptoms are the same.What condition with symptoms that are similar to those associated with amphetamine use might the psychiatrist now consider as a diagnosis?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described are consistent with those of a manic episode, which is a key feature of bipolar disorder. Manic episodes can be mistaken for drug use due to their high energy, rapid speech, and irritability. Since the symptoms have persisted beyond the expected duration of amphetamine use, mania is a more likely diagnosis. Dissociative fugue involves sudden travel or wandering away from one's daily life and identity, conversion disorder involves physical symptoms without medical explanation, and catatonic schizophrenia involves a range of symptoms related to movement and responsiveness. None of these conditions match the symptoms described in the question as well as mania.

When a Patient Arrives in the Emergency Room,he Is Restless