Hypomania and Severe Depressive Illness (The Affective Psychoses)

Abstract

Hypomania and severe depressive illness are called ‘affective’ disorders because the key feature is abnormal mood. ‘Psychosis’ indicates a severe form of mental disorder; hypomania has in common with schizophrenia a resemblance to the layman’s notion of insanity, at least during the acute phase, and some manifestations of depressive illness also have this quality. Nevertheless, complete recovery is usual, although there may be frequent relapses.