hypomanic mood episode The DSM-IV-TR defines a hypomanic episode as including, over the course of at least four days, elevated mood plus three of the following symptoms OR irritable mood plus four of the following symptoms: pressured speech inflated self-esteem or grandiosity decreased need for sleep flight of ideas or the subjective experience that thoughts are racing easy distractibility and attention-deficit similar to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder increase in psychomotor agitation involvement in pleasurable activities that may have a high potential for negative psycho-social or physical consequences (e.g., the person engages in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, reckless driving, or foolish business investments) [Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypomania] pathological mental process