What indicates that a patient may be experiencing an episode of mania?

When evaluating a patient for a potential episode of mania, the presence of euphoria is a significant indicator. Euphoria during manic episodes is characterized by an excessively elevated mood, which may manifest as extreme happiness, excitement, or an unrealistic sense of well-being. This mood state is often accompanied by other symptoms such as increased energy, reduced need for sleep, racing thoughts, and impulsive behavior.

In contrast, depression, flat affect, and isolation are typically associated with mood disorders such as major depressive disorder rather than mania. Depression indicates a low mood and lack of interest or pleasure, flat affect refers to a lack of emotional expression, and isolation often signifies withdrawal from social interactions, all of which are contrary to the heightened and expansive mood seen in mania. The presence of euphoria, therefore, stands out as a crucial sign of a manic episode.