A client experiences periods of hypersomnia and lack of interest alternating with episodes of elation and high energy. Which disorder is most likely?

A client experiences periods of hypersomnia and lack of interest alternating with episodes of elation and high energy. Which disorder is most likely?

• A. Depersonalization disorder.
• B. Conversion disorder.
• C. Bipolar disorder.
• D. Compulsive disorder.

Answer: (C)

Think in terms of mood episodes that swing between depression and elevated mood. The description shows depressive symptoms like hypersomnia and loss of interest, alternating with periods of elation and high energy that point to mania or hypomania. Experiencing both types of episodes over time is the defining pattern of bipolar disorder. The other options don’t fit this mood-shift profile: depersonalization is a dissociative symptom, conversion disorder is neurological symptoms without a medical cause, and obsessive-compulsive disorder centers on intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. So the pattern of alternating depressive and manic/hypomanic states best explains bipolar disorder.

Think in terms of mood episodes that swing between depression and elevated mood. The description shows depressive symptoms like hypersomnia and loss of interest, alternating with periods of elation and high energy that point to mania or hypomania. Experiencing both types of episodes over time is the defining pattern of bipolar disorder. The other options don’t fit this mood-shift profile: depersonalization is a dissociative symptom, conversion disorder is neurological symptoms without a medical cause, and obsessive-compulsive disorder centers on intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. So the pattern of alternating depressive and manic/hypomanic states best explains bipolar disorder.