Emergency Medical Minute

Contributors: Andrew White MD - Outpatient Psychiatrist; Fellowship Trained in Addiction Psychiatry; Denver Health Travis Barlock MD - Emergency Medicine Physician; Swedish Medical Center Summary In this episode of Mental Health Monthly, Dr. Travis Barlock hosts Dr. Andrew White to discuss the elements of mania that may be encountered in the emergency department. The discussion includes a helpful mnemonic to assess mania, work-up and treatment in the ED, underlying causes of mania, mental health holds, inpatient treatment, and the role of sleep in mania. Educational Pearls Initial assessment of suspected mania can be done via DIGFAST: Distractibility - Individual that is unable to carry a linear, goal-directed conversation Impulsivity - Executive functioning is impaired and patients are unable to control their behaviors Grandiosity - Elevated mood and sense of self to delusions of grandeur Flight of ideas - Usually described as racing thoughts Agitation - Increase in psychomotor activity; start s